by Ben Leapman In Mexico City Tony Blair has accused France of standing in the way of his campaign for global free trade.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/dynamic/news/story.html?in_review_id=432634&in _review_text_id=381713
He blames the Paris government for blocking moves to open up Europe to imports from developing countries.
And he points out that French firms have cashed in on globalisation by buying swathes of British industry - including utilities in his own seat of Sedgefield, Co Durham.
The Prime Minister goes on the attack in an interview with the Brazilian magazine Veja, to be published tomorrow.
He has talked before, in general terms, about resistance within the European Union. But his decision to name France as a leading opponent is a sign of his frustration.
Asked whether the French were the most reluctant to reform, Mr Blair says: "In the end, France will accept, I believe, the case for change and the economic reform process in Europe.
"We have now reoriented European economic policy around structural reform... I believe that France will accept, as other countries will, that it is sensible to change.
"Of course, French business is among the most dynamic anywhere in the world. For example, in my own constituency, French companies are heavily into both our electricity and water industries.
"Now, I personally think, in the end, that it's better that we can all trade with each other on a more open basis."
The message will be welcomed in Latin America, where Mr Blair today winds up a six-day tour aimed at winning support for globalisation. Countries there want to sell more agricultural produce to Europe, but are stopped by the EU's Common Agricultural Policy.
But the criticism will go down badly in Paris, where Lionel Jospin's socialist government is far more sceptical about free market economics. Mr Blair will start to learn Spanish when he returns from his week-long family holiday in Mexico. His announcement to 700 students in Mexico City was greeted with applause.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/dynamic/news/story.html?in_review_id=432634&in _review_text_id=381713
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