Honduras and Panama file complaint with WTO concerning new EU customs duty on bananas

Brussels, 01/12/2005 (Agence Europe) - On 30 November, Honduras and Panama filed a complaint with the WTO against the new customs duty imposed by the EU on banana imports from 1 January 2006. These two countries triggered expedited procedure so that, within 90 days, the WTO will verify whether the new customs duty is compatible with the earlier decisions taken in Geneva, whereby the two earlier EU proposals were considered too high (EUR 187 and 230). Other Latin American countries, including Ecuador, the leading world exporter, are expected to uphold the complaint filed. The matter may be discussed at the WTO Conference opening on 13 December in Hong Kong.

Latin-American banana-producing countries consider the import duty of 176 euros per tonne, approved on 29 November by EU Member States, as too high.