Abstract
The EU’s regulation of the banana trade could potentially result in displacing hundreds of thousands of workers, devastating the political and economic structure of some nations, and compromising EU integrity in regards to honoring treaty obligations. This paper attempts to take a closer look at these concerns. First, a factual summary of the events leading up to the banana controversy will familiarize the reader with the present situation concerning the EU and its banana trading partners.
Subsequent to the factual summary is a closer look at the players involved in the banana controversy: the Atlantic, Caribbean and Pacific countries that make up the former colonies of the EU; the eight banana producing countries from Central and South America that will be called the Latin American producers; and, the EU which is subdivided among those favoring and those against the EU’s new banana regime. Next, is a summary of the laws that are involved in the controversy. These include the “Banana Protocol” of the Treaty of Rome, the Single European Act, the Lomé Convention, the New Banana Regime, and GATT. This is followed by an analysis of how these laws either conflict or comport to EU actions.
In conclusion, this paper suggests that no unilateral action could reconcile the problems faced by all the countries involved. Rather, the best choice is real negotiation and compromise, because the consequences of obstinance will only prove to be costly to all.
Recommended Citation
Lyons, Richard
(1994)
"European Union Banana Controversy,"
Florida Journal of International Law: Vol. 9:
Iss.
1, Article 7.
Available at:
https://scholarship.law.ufl.edu/fjil/vol9/iss1/7