BRUSSELS, Oct 4: European trade chief Peter Mandelson on Wednesday unveiled a new trade strategy for the bloc, which set out plans to seek free trade agreements (FTA) with trading partners in key areas including South East Asia and South America.

While stressing that multilateral negotiations under the World Trade Organisation umbrella remained the top priority, Mandelson said he had decided to put his focus on concrete results for European exporters.

The core message was clear, said Mandelson, “rejection of protectionism at home, activism in opening markets abroad.”

He added: “Alongside our commitment to the World Trade Organisation we have, through bilateral negotiations, sought to remove trade barriers behind borders, barriers beyond the reach of WTO rules for example in Latin America and the Gulf.”—AFP