By Anna Willard

PARIS, June 13 (Reuters) - The European Union should not give an inch more in world trade talks until the United States reforms its agricultural market, the head of France's largest farming union said on Wednesday.

FNSEA president Jean-Michel Lemetayer, who met a few reporters to discuss French farmers' concerns after the election of right-wing President Nicolas Sarkozy, said the World Trade Organisation talks topped his agenda.

Negotiators hope to clinch a deal in the Doha round of talks by the end of 2007 and, according to WTO head Pascal Lamy, members are now inching closer to one another.

But Lemetayer said Europe must not offer any more concessions beyond its 2005 offer until the United States made an effort to reform its policies.

"We have no element that allows us to think the Americans will reform their agricultural system," he said.

"And that's the reason we're saying, that's enough. We're not going to make the slightest gesture, until we've had a real sign from our partners, notably the Americans."

On Tuesday, an important U.S. senator said he would oppose any trade deal that gave up more subsidies than it clinched in market access. It is also unclear whether Congress will extend the Bush administration's trade promotion authority, which gives the it wider rein in brokering a trade deal.

French farmers are dwindling in number but remain a powerful political lobby and are also a potent symbol of the country's attachment to its gastronomic culture and traditions.

They are represented in European trade talks by Farm Minister Christine Lagarde and at a European level by Commissioner Peter Mandelson.

The trade talks have dragged on for years, with much of the wrangling centred on agriculture, where France has been reluctant to give ground over the level of EU subsidies.

Sarkozy, whom Lemetayer met shortly after he was elected in May, has threatened to veto any WTO agreement that did not satisfy French requirements on farming.

Lemetayer said another concern for farmers was Sarkozy's plan for a wide-ranging conference with environmental groups when the government returns from its summer break.

He said farmers should not be blamed for France's environmental problems and if this became a theme of the talks he would not want to participate.

"We should not be the scapegoat," he said.

In a separate communique, the FNSEA said an agreement by EU farm ministers on Tuesday to shake up the bloc's fruit and vegetables sector, streamlining the way many subsidies are paid "lacked ambition".

(Additional reporting by Paule Bonjean)

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