Brussels, 14/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, Peter Mandelson once again warned against the failure of the Doha negotiations, criticising "the protectionist sentiments which were recently expressed in the American Congress and during the elections". Speaking at a conference on his new commercial strategy for the EU, the Commissioner for Trade went on to state that he did not share the point of view expressed last week by his American opposite number Susan Schwab, who said that she felt that the acquis for the Doha negotiations fell short of the mark. The American Trade Representative told the Wall Street Journal last week that taking back what was on the table now and putting an end to it would not work. "What is on the table today is far more than everything that was concluded under the previous Uruguay Round", Mr Mandelson retorted, referring to a "breakthrough in the restructuring of agricultural trade which no previous cycle had ever been able to operate". "We have a very short window in the weeks and months ahead to relaunch negotiations. If it is not used, the opportunities open for an agreement will be lost, possibly for years", he continued, going on to add: "there are differences of appreciation between the major players in the Round on the value of what is on the table. But I believe the gaps are bridgeable, if the will is there". "Europe remains committed to concluding an agreement, and I commit to explore all avenues to make an agreement possible, in the weeks to come", the Trade Commissioner concluded. (eh)