ACS Heads condemn WTO ruling

Regional leaders, including Belize’s Prime Minister Said Musa, have condemned the World Trade Organizations recent ruling on the banana trade as the “single most dangerous threat to the economies of the Caribbean’s banana exporting countries.” The leaders also called on the U.S. government to put an end to its trade embargo against Cuba. The statements were made at last week’s second summit of the Association of Caribbean States in the Dominican Republic. Twenty-five member states discussed the banana issue in light of this month’s W.T.O. ruling. Although concerned about the W.T.O.’s negative ruling which found the E.U. to be in violation of W.T.O. regulations, the A.C.S. Heads of Government stated their appreciation to the European Union for standing by their commitments to the banana producers of the Caribbean under the Lome Convention. They noted that certain recommendations made by the W.T.O. panel would be detrimental to the Caribbean and contrary to the fundamental principles and rules of the W.T.O. that are designed to foster development, not destroy it. Those attending the summit also signed agreements calling for improved terms of trade, sustainable tourism in the region and an inter-regional network for natural disaster prevention and management. In other news, Prime Minister Said Musa has accepted an invitation from Mexican president Ernesto Zedillo to visit Mexico later this year. Musa was accompanied by Foreign Ministry officials Lawrence Sylvestre and Jose Alpuche as well as Zaid Flores of the Banana Growers Association.