Caribbean fury at cynicalAmerican approach on bananas

29 July 1998

Caribbean fury at ‘cynical’
American approach on bananas

CARRIBEAN banana exporters have accused the USA and five Latin American countries of cynical and ruthlessly exploiting global trade rules laid down by the World Trade Organisation.

The attack comes in the wake of plans by the Caribbean Banana Exports Association to challenge the European Unions revised banana imports regime which was recently changed amid claims that it unfairly discriminated against Latin American countries.

Carribean banana exporters claim the revised banana regime could shut out Caribbean bananas from the European market.

The revised scheme retained separate quotas for Latin American and Caribbean countries and gave duty free access to the EU for African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. But it also increased the quota for Latin American countries and softened the controversial system for allocating import licences.

• USA and Latin Americans urge WTO to review banana deal, FWi, 24July
• Financial Times 29/07/98 page 4 (News Digest)