Thread: Peter Mandelson hits out at 'protectionist' Nicholas Sarkozy

Peter Mandelson hits out at 'protectionist' Nicholas Sarkozy

By Patrick Hennessy, Political Editor
Last Updated: 12:56AM BST 06/07/2008

Peter Mandelson, the European Union's trade commissioner, has escalated his public feud with Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, by hitting out at "protectionist" politicians who are putting crucial world trade talks at risk.

Mr Mandelson, the former Cabinet minister, uses an article in The Sunday Telegraph to pour scorn on leaders who take "populist and self-serving" stances to secure their positions domestically while ignoring the needs of the world as a whole.

In a direct appeal to the French president, who has attacked Mr Mandelson for being ready to agree moves that could result in agricultural production in the EU being cut by a fifth, the commissioner said: "I believe that, like Gordon Brown, Nicolas Sarkozy recognises that we are currently beset with global problems that lay siege to our economies. "I want President Sarkozy and other world leaders to accept that securing trade is an important part of the solution."

Mr Mandelson will lead the EU's delegation at the latest round of trade talks in Geneva later his month, with a deal in sight over opening up international markets.

The last attempt to reach an agreement in the present "Doha round" of negotiations, failed amid disagreements over cutting farm subsidies to rich nations. Mr Sarkozy is determined to protect subsidies to French farmers and is infuriated with what he sees as the free-trade stance adopted by Mr Mandelson and firmly backed by Gordon Brown. Last month, the French president blamed Mr Mandelson’s stance in the trade talks for the Irish “Noâ€

It is human nature to protect what is yours. People don't mind sharing but it goes to basic instinct when you cross the line to protect something. It is your God given instinct that let's us know when the line has been crossed. People sense the difference because they see their own survival is at stake. The fine balance has been tipped and people know it. Like pouring water down a drowning mans throat and saying water is good for you.