RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE WT/DS16/2
13October 1995
ORGANIZATION(95-3047)
Original: English
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES -REGIME FOR THE IMPORTATION, SALE AND
DISTRIBUTION OFBANANAS
Communication from Saint Lucia
Thefollowing communication, dated 3October 1995, fromthePermanent Representation of
Saint Lucia totheOffice oftheUnited States Trade Representative, thePermanent Missions of
Guatemala, Honduras andMexico andthePermanent Delegation oftheEuropean Commission was
received bytheChairman oftheDSBandiscirculated attherequest ofthePermanent Representation
ofSaint Lucia.
_______________
TheGovernment ofSaint Lucia wishes toconvey toyouitsrequest tobejoined inthe
consultations ontheEuropean Communities 'regime fortheimportation, saleanddistribution ofbananas
pursuant toArticle 4oftheUnderstanding onRules andProcedures Governing theSettlement of
Disputes, Article XXIII oftheGeneral Agreement onTariffs andTrade 1994, Article VIofthe
Agreement onImport Licensing Procedures andArticle XXIII oftheGeneral Agreement onTrade
andServices regarding theECregime fortheimportation, saleanddistribution ofbananas established
byRegulation 404/93 (OJL47of25thFebruary 1993) andthesubsequent EClegislation, regulations
andadministrative measures which implement, supplement andamend thatregime.
Article 4oftheUnderstanding onRules andProcedures Governing theSettlement ofDisputes
specifically provides thatduring consultations Members should givespecial attention totheparticular
problems andinterests ofdeveloping-country Members.
Theshare ofbanana exports intheagricultural exports ofSaint Lucia in1993 amounted to
90percent. Afallinthereturns onbananas would havefarreaching andnegative consequences for
theeconomy ofSaint Lucia. Anymodifications totheECbanana regime which significantly reduce
theprovisions infavour ofSaint Lucia would jeopardise ouraccess tooursoleexport market andgive
risetoadisastrous situation andeconomic collapse would beinevitable. Saint Lucia, therefore, has
asubstantial trade interest intheabove-mentioned consultations.
Ilookforward toreceiving yourearlyreply tothisrequest andtofixing amutually convenient
arrangementfortheholdingofjointconsultationsonthismatter,whichisofsuchfundamentalimportance
tomycountry.