Peter Mandelson, European Union trade commissioner, on Thursday accused President George W. Bush of “playing to the gallery” by calling for the global elimination of tariffs and subsidies, saying US farmers would oppose such a sweeping measure.

Mr Mandelson's comments came just one day after he and his counterpart Rob Portman, US trade representative, launched the most serious effort yet to agree on an agricultural liberalisation package as part of the Doha Round of global trade talks.