Development Commissioner Poul Nielson has made a vigorous defence of the EU’s trade and aid policy in the face of criticism from third-world countries…

Date: 24/02/2000

...that the Union was still charging duties on goods from the world's poorest states. Speaking at a United Nations sponsored conference on development in Bangkok, Nielson said the EU had pledged to give open access to 99% of goods from least developed countries and urged other rich nations to follow suit.