Fed: Aust accuses EU of propping up inefficient sugar farmers

AAP General News (Australia)
04-01-2004
Fed: Aust accuses EU of propping up inefficient sugar farmers

Australia has accused Europe of propping up its inefficient sugar producers at the
expense of farmers across the globe.

In a World Trade Organisation hearing on claims that Europe is breaching world trade
rules on sugar, Australia has said EU sugar farmers are the most expensive in the world.

But in a sign of the depth of feeling over the issue, Europe says Australia has failed
to act in good faith by ignoring the subsidy question for more than a decade.

Australia and Brazil have taken the EU to the world trade umpire, alleging Europe's
subsidy system for sugar breaches WTO rules.

AAP RTV sw/sb/jo/rh

KEYWORD: SUGAR (CANBERRA)

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