Doha Trade Round Talks: Irish Government warned not to allow rich farmers to scuttle progress; Agricultural produce accounts for 3% of Irish exports; Industrial and services exports for 97%
Jul 22nd, 2008 | By Finfacts Ireland Business & Finance Portal | Category: News worldwide
Doha Trade Round Talks: A week of tense trade talks began on Monday at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva, with most sides reported to be professing willingness to compromise but saying that others had to take the lead. In Ireland where the powerful Irish Farmers' Association (IFA), which mainly represents the interests of rich farmers, is setting the agenda for the two biggest political parties, the Irish Exporters Association (IEA) has warned the Government not to sacrifice the wider interests of the Irish economy in order to protect farmers. Agricultural produce account for 3% of Irish exports, whereas industrial and services exports account for 97%