Mandelson Says Sarkozy Is Undermining Trade Talks, BBC Reports

By Ed Johnson

July 2 (Bloomberg) -- European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said French President Nicolas Sarkozy is making his job more difficult and undermining Europe's position at world trade talks, the British Broadcasting Corp. reported.

As France began its six-month presidency of the EU yesterday, Sarkozy said Mandelson's plan to cut agricultural subsidies and tariffs would destroy European jobs, the BBC reported on its Web site.

``I am being undermined and Europe's negotiating position in the world trade talks is being weakened and I regret that,'' Mandelson told the BBC's Newsnight program. Sarkozy's comments will ``make it harder for me.''

To contact the reporter on this story: Ed Johnson in Sydney at ejohnson28@bloomberg.net.
Last Updated: July 2, 2008 00:37 EDT