EUROPEAN Union representatives surprised the Australian
contingent at last week’s annual Australia-EU Ministerial Consultations in
Brussels with an offer to scrap the EU’s farm subsidies.
In return, however, the EU has asked for some substantial
concessions.
The deal would require compromises from major farming
countries around the world including the US, Australia and Japan.
Australian officials are reported to have said they would
consider reforms to some Australian farm operations, with the EU’s target in
this regard being the AWB.