How long does it take to come to an agreement on bananas?
18 years, that's how long.
It started here:
In July 1991, Costa Rica expressed concern in the GATT Council meeting that an impending EU banana import regime would discriminate against Central American countries. It urged agreement in the Uruguay Round for free trade in bananas. Colombia, Honduras, Peru, Venezuela and Mexico shared this concern....
Nevertheless, within this context the parties continued to work in search of a solution. After more than 100 meetings lasting a total of approximately 400 hours, the parties announced a comprehensive agreement on Tuesday 15 December 2009.
Anyone would think the dispute was over nuclear reactors.
My take on 'Imperial Preference', 'Fair Trade' or whatever they are calling it this week can be found here.
It started here:
In July 1991, Costa Rica expressed concern in the GATT Council meeting that an impending EU banana import regime would discriminate against Central American countries. It urged agreement in the Uruguay Round for free trade in bananas. Colombia, Honduras, Peru, Venezuela and Mexico shared this concern....
Nevertheless, within this context the parties continued to work in search of a solution. After more than 100 meetings lasting a total of approximately 400 hours, the parties announced a comprehensive agreement on Tuesday 15 December 2009.
Anyone would think the dispute was over nuclear reactors.
My take on 'Imperial Preference', 'Fair Trade' or whatever they are calling it this week can be found here.
Labels: Sane economics
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 10:14 am.
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The most interesting question concerning bananas was put to to me by an elderly Polish emigré in Leeds some decades ago, he merely asked "Warum sind Bananen krumm?
I suppose the answer is that they are not cucumbers (sorry).
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