INTERNATIONAL

EC Ministers Turn Back Proposal: European Community agriculture ministers vowed to seek an overhaul of the trade bloc’s farm support programs but rejected the first proposal for radical reform. Dutch Agriculture Minister Piet Bukman said every minister expressed opposition to all or parts of a reform proposal offered last week by the EC Executive Commission. That plan calls for deep changes in the EC’s 30-year-old common agriculture policy, beset by big surpluses and runaway EC spending on subsidies. The issue will be discussed again in September.