Hearings into the banana dispute, set for November 6 and 7, will be open to the public, the World Trade Organisation said on Monday.

However, limited seating will be assigned on a 'first come-first served' basis.

Online registration is facilitated on the trade websites of the United States (U.S.) and the European Commission.

"The WTO cannot offer any support, including financial, for accommodation, flight arrangements and visas," said the WTO in a press release.

The parties to the dispute, which was brought by the United States against the EC/ European Union, have requested that the hearings be open to third parties and the general public, said the WTO in a press release.

At issue is the scheme operated by the EU under which its former colonies - countries of the African Caribbean and Pacific groupings - are granted preferential access for bananas.

The regime was adjusted January 1, 2006 after a successful challenge of the scheme several years ago, allowing Latin American producers greater access to the EU banana market.

Unsatisfied

ACP has share of about 16 per cent, while Latam producers control about 60 per cent.

But, unsatisfied by the concession that applied tariffs of €176 per tonne on imports but locked in a quota of 775,000 tonnes per year for the ACP, Ecuador launched another challenge this year, as did the US.

The US is not a banana producing nation, but several of its big corporations have extensive invest-ments within the Latin American region.

business@gleanerjm.com