US and EU trade negotiators agreed yesterday (10 March) to intensify bilateral talks

Date: 11/03/1999

to resolve their increasingly bitter dispute over bananas. Trade Commissioner Sir Leon Brittan and US Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky spoke by telephone in a bid to narrow their differences but were said to be still “far apart”. The long-running trade war intensified last week after the US decided to begin implementation of sanctions on products worth more than €450 million before a new World Trade Organisation ruling in its favour. Brittan's office said he was keen to resume talks with the aim of reaching a deal before this ruling in May.