Brussels, 24/11/2000 (Agence Europe) - Most of the banana traders do not want the so called "first come, first served" transitional system that the EU is considering to introduce to put an end to the Transatlantic dispute over European import policy. "That system is in no respect suited for the characteristics and requirements of marketing a perishable product such as bananas and would lead to a serious disruption in the market", asserted the coalition which regroups sixty-odd Europeans, one Caribbean (the Winward Islands) and one Latin American (from Ecuador) operators, that is to say "the vast majority of leading banana trade companies". The aim of this joint declaration, published on the eve of the ad hoc meeting of EU 15 experts aiming to push forward the dossier before the next session of the General Affairs Council, "to convince the Commission of the need to reconsider their proposal". Many producer countries have already rejected it, reminds the coalition, feeling that "if it is enacted, this longstanding dispute will not be resolved". Then concluding by "joining the call by the United States, seven countries of Latin America and the Caribbean for the prompt introduction of a different system, for instance based on historical references of bananas trading companies".