IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0101 ICS 148
Held at: Institute of Commonwealth Studies
Title: Caribbean Banana Exporters' Association
Date(s): 1993-2000
Level of description: Collection (fonds)
Extent: 8 boxes or 0.08 cubic metres
Name of creator(s): Caribbean Banana Exporters' Association
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
The Caribbean Banana Exporters Association evolved from the Commonwealth Banana Exporters Association which was formed in 1972. The CBEA established a London lobby in 1988 to defend its rights during pending trade discussions and the lobby is still active in 2008. The CBEA comprises representatives of banana growers and exporting companies from all the Caribbean countries that are involved in the banana export trade. These are Belize, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Surinam and the four Windward Islands- St Lucia, Dominica, St Vincent & the Grenadines, and Grenada.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Papers of the Caribbean Banana Exporters' Association (CBEA), comprising a preliminary report, 'Banana Exports from the Caribbean since 1992'; papers of the first General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) panel, 1993 including correspondence with lawyers, High Commissions and Caribbean missions regarding disputes between Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Venezuela, and the European Community; submissions and statements from European Community, Jamaica, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Venezuela and draft of the descriptive parts of the report of the Panel.
Papers of the second GATT panel, 1993 including submissions from the Caribbean and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) to the GATT Panel on the European Economic Community (EEC) Import Regime for Bananas, following a dispute between Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Venezuela, and the European Economic Community with related notes, memoranda and press releases; submissions and rebuttals from EEC; submissions from other parties including Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire and Madagascar; Dominican Republic; Venezuela; Costa Rica and Nicaragua; Colombia; Guatemala; and Brazil; correspondence, chiefly with US lawyers regarding the GATT Panel on EEC Import Regime for Bananas.
Correspondence regarding the World Trade Organization (WTO) proceeding requested by the United States regarding the European Union banana import regime, 1995-1996; correspondence and other papers on the WTO Panel on the banana regime, following a complaint by the United States supported by Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico, 1996; transcripts of oral submissions to WTO recourse to Article 21.5 of DSU by Ecuador, regarding European Communities - Regime for the Importation, Sale and Distribution of Bananas relating to Belize, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname; Ecuador and European Communities.
Papers relating to banana publicity in the UK, 1993-2000 including 'Bananas Mean Business' campaigning video; papers on lobbying; correspondence of LM Napier; correspondence with Matrix Partnership and Flagship Consulting; press releases and letters to editors; correspondence with development charities and papers and correspondence regarding Notting Hill Carnival, 1996-1999 including on Notting Hill Carnival Leaflet, 1996 and copy of Jamaica Rising Sun, Aug 1999 (Peoples National Party UK).
Papers on lobbying in Europe, 1993-1999 including papers on ACP-EEC Joint Assembly, 1993; European Parliament questions and debates; correspondence with Overseas Development Administration (ODA), UK; correspondence with EU Commission members; notes on visit of Eugenia Charles (Prime Minister of Dominica); press releases; lobbying notes; papers relating to lobbying in Scandinavian countries; correspondence with European ministers; report of MEP Fact Finding Mission, Guadeloupe and The Windward Islands, 1997; fact sheets; press cuttings and transcript of BBC Radio 4's Today Programme Nov 1998.
Papers relating to 301 Technical Committee set up to discuss US action against the EU banana regime, 1994-2000, including press releases; fact sheets; summaries of CBEA and lobbyists actions; notes from meetings; correspondence; press cuttings; Economic Study commissioned to investigate the economic consequences for Caribbean countries of loss of access to the banana market, Dec 1995; single sheet publication The US and Chiquita at the World Trade Organization. Life or Death for Small Caribbean Banana Farmers; papers on the CBEA Mission to US, 1998; leaflet 'Caribbean Banana Crisis: Know the Facts'; details of congressional visit to Brussels, 2000; and papers relating to impact of sanctions on imports from EU.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
Original order
Conditions governing access:
Open although advanced notice should be given. Access to individual items may be restricted under the Data Protection Act or Freedom of Information legislation.
Conditions governing reproduction:
A photocopying and digitisation service is available, at the discretion of the Library staff. Copies are supplied solely for research or private study. Requests to publish, or to quote from original material should be submitted to the Information Resources Manager.
Physical characteristics:
Finding aids:
Catalogued to file level (see link to repository catalogue).
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Accruals:
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
Received from the Carribbean Banana Exporters' Association, 2005.
ALLIED MATERIALS
Related material:
Publication note:
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Archivist's note: Entry compiled by Sarah Drewery.
Date(s) of descriptions: Feb 2008