The European Union has begun conversations with nine Latin American banana-producing nations to thrash out a new proposal on its import regime by next month.
Negotiations began on August 5 - within the 10-day deadline outlined by the disputes body of the World Trade Organisation last week.
Eva Garcia, who only took up her post as Ecuadorian ambassador to the World Trade Organisation in Geneva last month, told the Journal that the commission is likely to report back in September.
“We met last week and officials indicated that they were not in a position to give a full analysis until September because of the holiday period,” Garcia said. “In the meantime we are continuing to work and carry on informal conversations.”
The economist is now involved in a flurry of diplomatic activity. “This decision by the WTO arbitrators really lends weight to our arguments,” said Garcia.
“For Latin America it is a diplomatic triumph. We have started our conversations with the EU in order to try and harmonise our mutual interests and arrive at a win-win outcome. For us in Ecuador it is vital that we continue to be able to trade without hindrance.”
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