There has been a further split in the EU over the European Commission’s latest proposal for a banana import tariff in its upcoming negotiations with the World Trade Organisation.

Trade commissioner Pascal Lamy proposed a e230 a tonne tariff last week to come into force by 2006 at the latest.

Lamy said the figure had been very carefully calculated although he said it was "normal" that all the major parties would be against it. European and ACP producers had wanted a higher tariff of e300 while Latin American producers want the e75 status quo maintained.

But a group of 12 EU member states said on Tuesday they would be in favour of a single e75 tariff. Those countries were: Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, Finland, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Malta, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Germany has asked the Commission to justify its e230 proposal.

In a document drawn up by Sweden, these countries argue that the higher the tariff, the higher the end cost to consumers.

Ecuador, the largest exporter of bananas in the world, has stated that the proposal is a basis for negotiation although it would hope to negotiate this level downwards.

Meanwhile, it seems only African producers represented by the independent banana producers union of Africa, Upiba, deem the e230 tariff "acceptable". The union said the proposal is "an acceptable compromise" to guarantee the survival of African banana producers despite the fact the union had initially defended a tariff of e250-300.

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