The EU's executive Commission rejected on Thursday an accusation by France that Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson had overstepped his mandate to represent the EU position in world trade talks, according to Reuters. "We are fully aware of our mandate, our remit, for the negotiations on agriculture and we shall continue to respect that remit," a Commission spokeswoman told a regular news briefing. She added that the EU would not change its position on agriculture-related issues in the trade talks without similar moves from its negotiating partners.
