EC encouraged by Bush pledge to end farm subsidies

EC encouraged by Bush pledge to end farm subsidies    The European Commission said Monday it welcomed President George W. Bush’s willingness to overhaul agricultural subsidies.
   “Let’s join hands as wealthy industrialized nations and say to the world, we are going to get rid of all our agricultural subsidies together,” Bush said to ITV1 television in the United Kingdom, ahead of the G8 summit in Scotland today.
   “I am very encouraged to see an apparent willingness by the U.S. to look seriously at farm reform and put the U.S. Farm Bill on the table,” said Mariann Fischer Boel, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development.
   “In the ongoing world trade talks, the EU has pledged to phase out all export subsidies. But before agreeing on an end date, we need our partners, in particular the U.S., to do the same, by phasing out export credits and the use of dubious ‘food aid’ to dispose of surpluses — which is not a way to ensure long-term food security for developing countries,” Boel said.
   The U.S. Farm Bill is up for revision in 2007.