11 April, 2001, 11:43 GMT 12:43 UK

EU and US end banana war

The EU-US trade war hit developing world banana growers The long-running dispute between the EU and the US over importing bananas has been settled.

EU trade commissioner Pascal Lamy announced an agreement to end the three year argument.

And the US has agreed to suspend the sanctions imposed on European luxury goods because of the row.

The US had argued that the EU shows bias towards banana producers in former colonies over US owned plantations in Latin America, and won a case with the World Trade Organisation in 1997.

The agreement still waits clearance from the European Parliament and each member state.

If all goes ahead, sanctions will be removed from 1 July.

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2001

Answers

Unless there is a slip-up.

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2001

The spud wars between the U.S. and Canada (Nova Scotia?) may be ending soon, too!

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2001