Brussels, 04/08/2009 (Agence Europe) - Ecuadorian authorities have confirmed that they have received a reply to their letter calling for a reduction in the tariff imposed on the import of bananas into the EU. This tariff currently stands at €176 per tonne, and Ecuador wants to see the commitment to reduce this tariff, given by the Commission in 2006, made real.
In a letter sent to Fander Falconi, External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner responds to the Ecuadorian letter of 10 July calling for an explanation of the nine shortcomings raised with regard to WTO rules. While awaiting this response, Ecuadorian President Rafael Strap suspended involvement in trade negotiations with the European Union and threatened to boycott the fifth round of these talks in Lima. The Ecuadorian authorities will now consider the response, reports Noticias Financieras.
In 2006, the Commission promised an immediate reduction in the tariff applied to the import of bananas from Ecuador to €148, dropping to €114 per tonne in the longer term, but, the Ecuadorians say, this commitment has yet to materialise. Ecuador will enjoy a preferential bonus on exports to the EU until 2014, said Eduardo Ledesma, the head of the banana exporters' association, as reported also in Noticias Financieras.. Ledesma added that this period of grace should be used to take complaints to the WTO in Geneva. Observers note that bananas make up 55% of Ecuador's exports to the European Union, but do not constitute even 1% of the EU's overall imports. (C.D./transl.rt)