Aust urged to dismantle single desk for lower EU farm subsidies
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The European Commission says the European Union (EU) is willing to lower its controversial farm subsidies, but Australia will have to get rid of the single desk for wheat exports.
A senior official says while agriculture has been a stumbling block in world trade talks, Europe is reducing its beef and dairy production, and will need more imports.
But for the EU and United States to drop their trade barriers, deputy director-general for trade Peter Balas says the single desk must go.
"It has to be committed to be removed in the same way as the EU is committed to removing all its export subsidies," he said.
"For decades we heard that the major reason for operating this kind of export monopoly was the existence of export subsidies in other countries.
"Once export subsidies are not there, there is no more justification for this kind of corporation."
