Mandelson Wades Into Trade Radicals: NGOs Are Unimpressed By Vision Of 'benign' Globalisation

David Gow in Brussels {http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,3604,1357321,00.html }

Peter Mandelson, the new EU trade commissioner, yesterday signalled his determination to take on radical campaigners and non-governmental organisations fighting liberalisation of global economic markets.

On his first official day in office, the former Labour cabinet minister and continuing confidant of Tony Blair spelt out a vision of 'benign' globalisation that is anathema to NGOs and 'street' groups attacking the impact of freer trade on developing countries.

Mr Mandelson immediately ran into trouble with NGOs who accused him of cancelling a planned meeting with them on Thursday at short notice while making time to attend a discussion on trade sponsored by Nestl