(GENEVA) - European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson shrugged off a threat by French President Nicolas Sarkozy Thursday to reject a WTO trade accord as it stood, insisting that as commissioner he held the mandate to negotiate on the behalf of the EU.

Asked by reporters about Sarkozy's comments, Mandelson replied: "I have no reaction, except to say that the Commission is charged with negotiating here at the WTO on behalf of all the member states and we will continue to do so on the basis of the mandate we have."

Mandelson and Sarkozy have been trading blows in the run-up to the trade talks here, with Sarkozy warning he would block any WTO deal that hurt France's farm interests.

The EU commissioner had retorted that he was being "undermined and Europe's negotiating position in the world trade talks is being weakened."

Earlier on Thursday, Sarkozy said he would not sign a draft agreement under discussion in Geneva.

"At the WTO, this agreement which is on the table, if it is not modified, then we will not sign it," Sarkozy said.

The French President's remarks came as ministers from more than 35 key economies, including Mandelson, were meeting in Geneva to broker a breakthrough for a deal that would open up world trade under the seven-year-old Doha round.

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