After one of the most protracted trade disputes in modern history, two agreements were signed that will hopefully put an end to the "banana wars". The Geneva Agreement on Trade in Bananas between the European Union and Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and Venezuela and the Agreement on Trade in Bananas between the EU and the USA.

We reported in December that the EU had decided to extend existing anti-dumping duties (ADD) on Chinese and Vietnamese footwear for an additional 15 months. China subsequently initiated WTO dispute proceedings in February by requesting consultations on the matter with the EU but despite months of negotiations the case has now gone to adjudication. Interestingly though, Vietnam has not yet brought proceedings to the WTO but the ADD on Vietnamese imports is lower than its Chinese counterparts.

Following an expiry review, the European Council has adopted Regulation No. 157/2010 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on certain ring-binder mechanisms falling within CN Code 8305.10.00 originating from the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

ITS reported in December 2009 that the European Commission had adopted a temporary proposal to suspend the GSP+ trade concession to Sri Lanka and that a decision would be made in two months to decide whether or not to remove GSP+ benefits permanently or not.