European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson has accused French President Nicolas Sarkozy of undermining him in the run-up to vital world trade talks.
He also warned that a long-sought global deal could collapse if the EU fails to maintain its unity.
Yesterday, Mr Sarkozy attacked Mr Mandelson's stance at the World Trade Organisation talks.
The French President accused Mr Mandelson and WTO chief Pascal Lamy of trying to force a deal on the EU that would be bad for its farming sector.
He said he would not accept an agreement if it meant European agriculture being sacrificed in the name of freer trade.
Mr Sarkozy told French television channel France 3 that the EU Commissioner and Mr Lamy 'want to make us accept a deal under which Europe would commit to cutting farm output by 20% and reduce farm exports by 10%
'That would be 100,000 jobs lost, I won't let it happen,' he added.
Mr Mandelson said later he had a mandate from all 27 EU member states to offer to phase out trade-distorting export subsidies and reduce some import tariffs as part of a deal to drive out protectionism and help developing countries feed themselves.
He warned that disunity within the EU would get in the way of progress towards a successful conclusion to the seven-year Doha Round of WTO talks at a ministerial meeting in Geneva later this month.
He said he was mystified by Mr Sarkozy's decision earlier to point the finger of blame at him for the Irish No vote on the Lisbon Treaty.
Last night, Mr Mandelson, in Paris with other commissioners to mark the start of the French presidency, snubbed dinner with President Sarkozy at the Élysée Palace.
Meanwhile, an EU Commission trade spokesman in Brussels hit back with a tirade against President Sarkozy's protectionist attitude towards his farmers - who are key voters in France.
And a commission statement said the trade round was not about Mr Mandelson, nor Mr Lamy, nor President Sarkozy.
It said the negotiations are about giving the global economy a shot in the arm in order to be able to face the current economic pressures.
