Carolina Pimentel
Reporter Agência Brasil

Brasília - Yesterday president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva once again criticized European countries for resisting farm sector subsidy reductions. Lula declared that without such reductions poor countries have no chance to grow and compete on world markets.

"When it comes to agricultural subsidies, France has a difficult time in dealing with the problem. In fact, the French problem is not economic, it is political. French farmers are a big constituency and no one wants a conflict with them," said Lula, who announced that he had sent a message to British prime minister, Tony Blair, requesting his assistance in getting subsidy reductions in rich countries, especially the EU.

According to Lula, the EU should lead the way in significant worldwide farm subsidy reductions. "They have the highest subsidies in the world by far and need to show that they are willing to open their markets by making reductions," said the president.

Translator: Allen Bennett