Banana growers lobby for better deal from E.U., W.T.O.

Belizean negotiators continue to lobby for a better deal for the nation’s banana growers. The European Union has submitted a new proposal to the World Trade Organization which calls for a reduced tariff for non-A.C.P. producers of one hundred and eighty-seven Euros per ton and an annual A.C.P. quota of seven hundred and seventy-five thousand tons. That plan is being questioned by Belizean and Caribbean growers who met last week in St. Lucia with E.U. Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson. Belize will be represented next week in Brussels by Trade Director Jaime Alpuche and Banana Growers Association general manager Zaid Flores. According to Flores “it’s crunch time” as decisions to be made shortly by the W.T.O. will determine the future viability of one of Belize’s major industries.