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Thursday, October 16, 2008 – Saint Lucia and other members of the
African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of banana producing countries met on
Wednesday, October 15, 2008 in Geneva to plan strategies aimed at protecting ACP
banana producers from any reduction of trade preferences currently received in
the European banana market. Today’s ACP meeting chaired by Honourable Rufus
Bousquet took place in advance of a hearing of the WTO Appellate Body scheduled
for October 16. 2008). It is expected that Saint Lucia and other ACP banana
producing countries will make oral and written submissions in the appeal wade by
the European Communities against the findings of a WTO Panel in the long-running
banana dispute between the European Communities on one hand and Latin American
suppliers and the United States (MFN Suppliers) on the other.
After years of litigation between the complainants, the MFN SUPPLIERS and their
backers, against the European Communities, a WTO Panel found the Communities’
regime on bananas in contravention of WTO law. This finding by the panel meant
that the European Communties would be required to adjust its current import
regime on bananas by reducing the current tariff of of 176 euros per tone—the
rate charged on Latin American bananas entering the European market.
ACP banana producers access the EC market at a zero Tariff. The EC has appealed
the finding of the panel in the hope that ACP banana suppliers, including Saint
Lucia and the other Windward Islands, will continue to enjoy the European market
under the present access arrangements.
It is widely believed that should a reduction in the current tariff take place,
it would have severe if not dire consequences not only for Saint Lucia banana
producers but the entire ACP Membership as well.
The delegation from Sa.in Lucia, headed by the Honourable Rufus Bousquet is now
in Geneva to present oral arguments to the WTO Appellate Body outlining the case
why there should, be l.a reduction, in the EC banana tariff and explaining the
disastrous consequences on our small economies should the panel ruling be up
held.
Minister Bousquet has been invited by the ACP Group to open and lead the oral
arguments before the Appellate Body. It is expected that Minister Bousquet will
highlight to the Judges the ‘inequities in the decision of he panel’ and ‘the
right of small sovereign states to trade in a peaceful and profitable
environment.
Saint Lucia’s delegation is receiving administrative and logistical support
services from the OECS Technical Mission in Geneva.
Minister Bousquet’s leading role on this banana matter before ‘the Appellate
Body follows from his recent meeting of ACP Heads of Government in Accra, Ghana
where he rallied support for ‘the Windward Islands in this crucial encounter
with the ‘WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism.
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