WTO upholds US complaint over EU banana imports: US official

AFP, February, 2008

GENEVA (AFP) — The World Trade Organisation has ruled in favour of a complaint by the United States against the European Union's banana import regime, US trade officials said on Friday.

"We can confirm that the United States prevailed in its challenge," an official said on condition of anonymity.

The United States had argued that EU import duties of 176 euros (255 dollars) a tonne imposed on banana imports from Latin America harmed exports from major producer nations like Ecuador, Honduras, Panama and Nicaragua.

Although the United States does not export bananas to the EU itself, three of the largest producers with plantations in Latin America are US-based multinationals: Chiquita, Del Monte and Dole.

In contrast, developing countries in the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group, which include many former European colonies, can import bananas under a quota system that permits 775,000 tonnes of duty-free imports per year. ...