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NEGOTIATIONS:EU TRADE Commissioner Peter Mandelson has strongly rejected claims that he is "selling out" the beef industry by supporting a new compromise proposal for a global trade deal. He has also said the vast majority of EU states are backing the controversial package, which could unlock seven years of deadlock in World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks.

"There is nothing that we are negotiating in this deal that would undermine any part of European agriculture. The beef industry, like others in European farming, have a strong future," said Mr Mandelson, who has been criticised by the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) for supporting tariff cuts on beef imports, which they claim will destroy the sector.