The Banana War

Term Paper # 100166

Economics > Globalization
Economics > International
International Relations > U.S.

The Banana War

This paper examines the eight year dispute between the United States (US) and the European Union (EU), known as the Banana War.

1,443 words () | 8 sources | MLA | 2007 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the Banana War and the role of the major players over the eight year dispute. The paper examines the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its paradoxical mandate to have 'fair' competition and provide an arena for objective negotiations. The paper shows how the Banana War highlighted the dynamics of globalization, the workings of the WTO and the politics of international economic activities.

Outline:
Introduction
Dynamics of the Banana War
World Trade Organization: Role in the Banana War and Dispute-Settlement
'Players' of the Banana War
Conclusion: The 'Banana Split'

From the Paper:

"The 'Banana War' provides the platform to explore the concept of international economics, within the paradigm of political economics. That is, with a history embedded in colonialism, which some say caused the economic collapse of African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries (Capella, 2005); shouldn't the EU be responsible for the economic health of these regions? If so, preferential treatment to these regions, was not illegal, but was in-fact justified. However, in a globalized world, with the laws of demand and supply dictating economic policy, should an uncompetitive player be allowed to remain in the market, due to protectionism? If no, then the US was well within its right to seek retribution for losses they incurred. These complex issues and questions will be analyzed and answered in the following sections."

Sample of Sources Used:

Barkham, Patrick. "Banana Wars Explained." Guardian Unlimited. March 5, 1999. http://www.guardian.co.uk/banana/Story/0,2763,208549,00.html
Bounds, Andrew. "Banana Wars." Latin Trade. June 2001. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BEK/is_6_9/ai_75476637
Capella, Peter. "EU Loses Banana War with Latin America at WTO." Caribbean Net News, August 2, 2005. http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/2005/08/02/banana.shtml
Freckleton, Marie. "WTO Approves Sanctions." UWI Lecture Series. University of the West Indies Press, Kingston Jamaica, 2003
Jatras, Todd. "Banana Wars Come to An End." Forbes.Com; April, 2001. http://www.forbes.com/2001/04/12/0412bananas.html