EU farm offer

Tuesday, 25 May, 2004 - 22:00

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.