The EU will appeal the WTO ruling on its banana import duties that favour imports from Africa, Caribbean and Pacific nations over those from Latin America.
“We intend to appeal the decision as it sets a bad precedent,” an EU spokesperson for trade told just-food today (21 May) “Firstly it is irrelevant as the preferential duties are no longer in effect. They were replaced by agreements on 1st January. Also it encourages WTO challenges by countries not directly affected – in this case the US not an exporter of bananas.”
The appeal follows a WTO ruling issued on Monday that found the EU was breaching global trade agreements in its banana import policy.
The complaint was brought before the WTO by the US, who wants to levy retaliatory taxes on European goods equal to the losses incurred by US companies like Chiquita Brands International.
The ruling was the latest in a series of WTO decisions against the EU’s banana import policy.

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