Ecuador has challenged the European Union to honour its statements in favour of free trade by removing its “illegal protectionist” trade tariffs that favour banana imports from African, Caribbean and Pacific producers over Latin America.

In a letter to the Financial Times, Eduardo Ledesma, executive director of the Association of Ecuadorian Banana Producers, called on the EU to demonstrate its intention to fight against protectionism by resolving the long-standing dispute over banana import charges.

“The EU must prove it means what it says about leadership, openness and the need to avoid protectionism,” said Mr Ledesma. “The current (economic) crisis is an opportunity to break the status quo and create a fairer, more open trading system. Let Brussels put its money where its mouth is, starting with bananas.”

Mr Ledesma quoted EU trade commissioner Catherine Ashton as having recently said that she hopes WTO members “will resist protectionist pressures”. However, he said that “the EU’s actions continue to contradict these fine words”.

The banana official’s appeal comes in the wake of the World Trade Organisation’s decision to condemn the EU’s banana import regime on November 26 – the 13th such condemnation in 15 years.

The criticism followed the breakdown of talks over an agreement to end the banana dispute between the EU and Latin American countries during lengthy and ill-fated Doha trade talks in July.

“Whether the global trade talks progress or not, implementation of the agreement by the EU would send a strong signal to the rest of the world that Europe is ready to reverse 15 years of banana illegalities, and do its part to deter protectionism and restore confidence in the trading system,” added Mr Ledesma.

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