Threat of legal action continues in banana talks

Tonight there is news to report in the banana talks in Hong Kong. According to international media reports, bananas imported from the Africa, Caribbean Pacific Group will enter Europe tariff free, while fruit from the Latin American countries has been set at one hundred and seventy-six Euros or two hundred and twelve U.S. dollars per ton. We understand that that price also includes an elimination of all quotas and licenses, which was the best case scenario for local bananas. According to the Prensa Latina, several leaders, including Ecuadorian Agriculture Minister Pablo Rizzo are already pitching a fit, asserting that by allowing bananas from A.C.P. countries to enter Europe tariff free, the E.U. is violating international trade laws and regulations. The report goes on to contend that Ecuador has already begun legal action, seeking out attorneys of the World Trade Organization for a new petition and request arbitration. Belize was represented at the Hong Kong talks by a delegation led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Godfrey Smith. In his address from the floor, Smith maintained that the one hundred and seventy-six Euro tariff would undermine the viability of A.C.P. states like Belize and allow countries with Most Favoured Nation status an increased market access. In previous interviews on the subject, Chairman of the Banana Growers Association Zaid Flores expressed that even under the current system, Belize was at a disadvantage as the Latin Americans already have a huge advantage because of their much higher rates of production. In addition, Flores had contended that if the Euro remains high against the U.S. dollar, Belizean growers could probably survive the lower tariff rate if the local industry strives to increase efficiency and maximise production yields.