• Tariffs could be lowered on Latin American imports•
UK shoppers urged to keep buying Caribbean fruitBritain's shoppers are being urged to keep faith with fair trade Caribbean banana growers as Europe and Latin America prepare to declare a ceasefire in the 16-year "banana wars," one of the world's longest-running trade disputes.Banana prices should fall as a result of the deal, as Brussels cuts the import taxes it charges Latin American growers to sell their more cheaply produced fruit in to the European market.But Alistair Smith, international co-ordinator of the co-operative Banana Link, warned the impact of the agreement would be "devastating" for small farmers in the Caribbean Windward Islands, unless British consumers – their major market – stuck with fair trade fruit."The costs of the end of the banana industry in the Windward Islands would be nothing short of devastating – it's the biggest single sector in the economy, it's the largest employer," he said.Last night, Cathy Ashton, the EU trade commissioner, said the warring parties in the banana dispute were very close to an agreement. "We are not there yet but we are now in the final stages of negotiations in Geneva ... [which] I hope will actually draw it to a close and demonstrate that we are able to deal with these problems eventually."I think it will be later this week or early next week because I want to make sure that everything is in place," she said.Proposals on the table would lower the import tariffs Europe charges on Latin American bananas, from €176 (£155) a tonne to €148, and then gradually to €114 over the following seven years.That would almost eliminate the special "preferences" the EU currently gives to banana producers in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific – known as the ACP countries – many of which are former colonies.As a result of the deal, banana prices in Europe's shops should fall by up to 12% by 2016, as imports from cheaper Latin Americ ...
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