French farmers fuming about subsidy issue

French farmers are threatening to fight against losing their subsidies.

The latest round of international trade talks in Hong Kong have resolved to remove export subsidies by 2013.

Newstalk ZB's French correspondent Catherine Field said that would mean European butter would not be able to find a market abroad.

She said the farmers are receiving "a lot of support" from the government.

She added that with the recent race riots in the suburbs of Paris, the last thing anyone wants is a load of butter and courgettes being dumped outside the city's town hall.

Ms Field said the subsidies are so entrenched, it would be a brave politician who takes them away.

- NEWSTALK ZB