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REGION UNITED AGAINST EU BANANA-TARIFF HIKE.

Article Excerpt
The European Union (EU) has proposed a tariff on banana imports of 230 euros (US$276) per metric ton. The announcement from Brussels on Oct. 27 said the new duty would go into effect as part of a revised system in 2006. The new single-tariff regime will replace a quota system now in effect. The announcement was met with immediate rejection in the region and throughout Latin America, where its effects will differ from country to country.

Costa Rica currently pays 75 euros a MT. Foreign Trade Minister Manuel Gonzalez responded to the proposed change saying, "A tariff this high confirms that Costa Rica's position of refusing the raise is the correct one, even though we have had to defend it alone. We reiterate the rejection of the exclusively tariff-based regimen the EU proposes." He said his ministry, COMEX, would fight the proposal before the World Trade Organization (WTO) and seek support among foreign trade ministers of banana-producing countries meeting in Panama.

The Asociacion Nacional de Productores Independientes de Banano (Anaproban) took the same position as COMEX. Anaproban vice president Luis Umana said the tax would be prejudicial to the...

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