Banana ruling pleases Latin farmers

09 April 1999

Banana ruling pleases Latin farmers

LATIN American farmers are reported by the Financial Times to be pleased by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling on European banana imports.

Ecuador, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama had all complained to the WTO over the restrictions placed on their bananas by the European Union (EU).

But the newspaper reports the WTO judgement will increase uncertainty for Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela and Nicaragua.

The four countries had protected their exports by accepting a guaranteed share of the EU quota.

Caribbean banana exporters pledged to continue supplying Europe, maintaining that trade treaties commit the EU to maintaining a preferential market.

The WTO arbitration panel ruled that the European Unions banana import regime violated global trade rules.

• Financial Times 09/04/99 page 8
  
• The Daily Telegraph 09/04/99 page 15