By Prensa Latina,
Panama : The Panamanian government slammed the European Union (EU) unilateral decision of suspending the accord on banana tariffs adopted Sunday with Latin American countries.
“We lamented this situation, because the pact had been independently negotiated and consider it should not depend on the Doha Round results,” Trade Minister Carmen Gisela Vergara stated.
In statements published Tuesday night, Vergara noted that the commitment represented a hope and solution to a historic dispute faced with the World Trade Organization.
The accord supposed to reduce the current tariff the EU applies to import Latin American banana of 176 euros per metric tons until locate it in 114 euros in 2016.
Faced with that decision, we consider the agreement was of great importance and would benefit the Trade multilateral system, in addition of ending over 15 years of constant banana disputes, she noted.
Efforts to reach a multilateral accord and define a special protection mechanism for fragile agricultural economies worldwide received Wednesday a definitive setback in Geneva, stressed the official note.