WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/DS27/51/Add.4
17 January 2000
(00-0224)
Original:  English
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES – REGIME FOR THE IMPORTATION,
SALE AND DISTRIBUTION OF BANANAS
Status Report by the European Communities
Addendum
The following communication, dated 14 January 2000, from the Permanent Delegation of the
European Commission to the Dispute Settlement Body, is circulated pursuant to Article 21.6 of the
DSU.
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Status Report on the Implementation of the Recommendations and Rulings in the Dispute regarding
European Communities – Regime for the Importation,
Sale and Distribution of Bananas
As explained extensively at the DSB m eeting of 19 November 1999, the EC has now
developed a proposal for the reform of the banana regime.  This proposal comprises a decision to
continue discussions with interested parties, in particular on the possible systems of distribution of
licences for the tariff rate quota regime.
Those discussions are underway, and several proposals have been received and are being
studied.  There continue to be divergent views expressed by the main parties concerned, and even
where there is apparent agreement, differences emerge in the details.  As a result, no agreedconclusions can be reached at this stage.  Efforts to find an agreed solution continue.
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