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15-Year Banana Tariff Dispute Finally Settled,
by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
The European Union and Latin American countries on December 15 settled a long-running
trade dispute, on EU banana import tariffs.
As part of the deal – seen as a boost for the Doha Round of world trade talks – the EU
will gradually cut its import tariff on bananas from Latin America from EUR176 (USD256)
to EUR114 per tonne by 2017 at the earliest, with an immediate cut to EUR148
per tonne when the agreement is signed.
In parallel, the US has agreed to settle a similar dispute with the EU. The
EU has also offered to mobilize up to EUR200m for the main African and Caribbean
banana-exporting countries to help them adjust to stiffer competition from Latin
America.
Commenting on the agreement, European Commission President José Manuel
Barroso announced that:
"I am delighted that we have finally found a way to solve
the bananas dispute with a compromise that works for all sides. This is an important
boost for the multilateral system."
European Trade Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner added: "Today is
a very good day for banana producers worldwide and for consumers, as we finally
see the 'longest trade dispute in history' solved. After years of tedious negotiations
the deal reached will provide an important push for progress in the Doha Round
talks and for the multilateral trading systems in general."
"At this occasion
let me pay tribute to my predecessor as Trade Commissioner, Cathy Ashton, and
senior Commission officials, who have been instrumental in achieving this deal."
In return for the agreement on reduced tariffs, Latin American countries will:
Not demand further cuts – the EU will not cut its tariff further once the
Doha Round of talks on global trade resumes; and
Drop cases against the EU – Latin American producers will settle several
legal disputes pending against the EU at the WTO, some dating as far back as 1993.
Bananas from African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries will continue
to enjoy duty- and quota-free access to the EU under separate trade and development
agreements.
The deal offers ACP countries two important outcomes:
Predictability – the EU guarantees it will not cut its bananas tariff
any further in the framework of the Doha Round; and
Time to adapt – ACP countries will have several years to adjust to stiffer
competition from Latin America.
In parallel, the EU, ACP and Latin American countries have agreed on an approach
to the so-called "tropical" and "preference erosion" products, which they will
promote jointly in the context of the ongoing Doha Development Agenda negotiations.
"Tropical products"
will be subject to deeper tariff cuts, while tariff cuts for "preference erosion"
products of interest to ACP countries wil be conducted over a relatively longer
period.
The World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Secretary General, Pascal Lamy, commented:
“I welcome the news that a comprehensive agreement on bananas has now
been reached. This has been one of the most technically complex, politically
sensitive and commercially meaningful legal disputes ever brought to the WTO.
It has also been one of the longest running 'sagas' in the history
of the post-World War II multilateral trading system.”
“After lengthy consultations, legal examinations, negotiations, and gentle
prodding by an 'honest broker,' a solution has been found. This
proves there is no trade issue which lies beyond the reach of WTO members when
they exhibit good will and a spirit of compromise. I hope that the same pragmatism,
creativity and diplomacy will help move forward the Doha Round negotiations.”
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