Banana exporters in Ecuador have hit out at the European Union's negotiating 'charade' as talks continue over a reduction in banana import tariffs.
Exporters in the South American country have said that if a resolution to the long-running banana trade dispute is found soon, the EU should be sanctioned by the Ecuadorian government, Reuters reported.
'If by this summer the EU's negotiating charade continues, and no legally solid settlement has been reached with large, enforceable tariff cuts equal to those agreed in Geneva last July, Ecuador will have to take reprisals,' a statement read.
The Geneva tariff cuts were agreed as part of wider World Trade Organisation negotiations during the Doha round of talks last year, but were never finalised as wider trade talks collapsed.
The European Union is currently negotiating with Latin American nations over areduction in banana import tariffs, with the bloc proposing cuts fromthe current mark of €176 per tonne to €114 per tonne by 2016.This would involve an initial cut to €148 per tonne next year.
However, African, Caribbean and Pacific countries have argued that a lower tariff wouldseverely hit their own exports, which have enjoyed duty-free access formany years.
