EC considers resuming agricultural talks with Poland, neighbors surge ahead

The European Commission (EC) will consult next week with governments of European Union (EU) countries on resuming negotiations with Poland regarding the liberalization of trade in agricultural goods. The talks were broken off in mid-April because Poland refused to withdraw from customs duties increases on, amongst other things, butter, sugar and yogurts. However, according to Gazeta Wyborcza sources there is a possibility that the EC would agree to higher customs duties if Poland made some concessions in return. There is no possibility of liberalizing trade between Poland and the EU sooner than Jan. 1, 2001. Meanwhile, Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia will do so in less than two months' time giving them a competitive edge over Poland. (Rzeczpospolita, page B1) T.J.