http://www.boston.com/dailynews/122/world/EU_adopts_regulations_for_new_:.shtml

EU adopts regulations for new banana import system

By Associated Press, 5/2/2001 19:12

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) The European Union Commission Wednesday formally adopted the regulations for its new banana import system after striking compromises with the United States and Ecuador, the world's biggest banana producer.

The new rules cover the management of import license arrangements and will apply from July 1.

''It is now possible to say that the major parties to this long running dispute have agreed on a balanced solution,'' said EU Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler.

The disputed EU system favored shipments from former European colonies in Caribbean and Pacific islands and Africa over Latin American bananas sold primarily by U.S. firms Chiquita Brands International Inc. and Dole Foods Co.

The deal struck by EU and U.S. negotiators in early April after eight years of haggling will allow bananas to be imported into the EU through licenses distributed on the basis of past trade until 2006, when a tariff-only system will take effect.

Historical suppliers of bananas to the EU will have access to 83 percent of the total import quota of 2.4 million tons, while nontraditional suppliers like Ecuador will have the remaining 17 percent.

The deal means the United States will suspend sanctions against EU products worth $191.4 million a year on July 1.

The World Trade Organization last year gave the United States approval to impose sanctions on a wide range of EU products.

-- Anonymous, May 03, 2001

Answers

I prefer homegrown.

-- Anonymous, May 03, 2001

Better keep your eyes peeled. The Europeans are a bunch of whiners who will foster an atmosphere of trust and hang in there until the time is ripe, then will slip through a loophole.

-- Anonymous, May 03, 2001

OG, I'm surprised by your comment about Europeans or are the Brits exempt ?

-- Anonymous, May 03, 2001

Europe is a continent. Britain is an island near that continent! 'Swhy I said "Europe" and not "EU"!

Apocryphal story: Yankee daughter-in-law has baby, sez to Southern mama-in-law, "Is my son a Yankee or a Southener?" M-i-L sez, "Jest cawz a cat has her kittens in th'oven don't make 'em biscuits." Well, the Brits ain't biscuits--yet.

-- Anonymous, May 03, 2001