Brussels, 27/01/2005 (Agence Europe) - Leaders from Latina American banana producing countries said on Wednesday that the level of customs duties (EUR 230 per tonne) the European Union was proposing for production in 2006, was “unacceptable”. Presidents from Equator, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Guatemala, as well as the Honduran minister of foreign affairs met in Quito, Equator, to adopt a common position that took to the offensive on this issue. In the Quito Summit's final document, producer countries considered that the European project would breach EU obligations to the WTO. They are calling on the EU to “immediately negotiate with signatories of this declaration for finding a solution that was suitable to everyone. The document is also requesting that the EU respect commitments made during he Doha Round of the WTO. The final declaration was submitted to the European Commission on Thursday.
As part of the negotiations at the WTO, the EU is proposing that EUR 230 is paid per tonne of Latin American bananas imported as from 2006, as opposed to the EUR 75 currently deducted. In compliance with its commitment, the EU will have to, from 2006, replace the current system of import quotas (for Community producers, ACP producers and producers from Latin America) with a new single tariff system. Since the announcement of the proposals (EUROPE 28 October p 16), some Latin American and ACP countries have criticised the tariff level: the former saying it is too high and the latter calling for an even higher tariff.