Bananas (GS&GG) Flashcards
the fruit.
Which 4 countries are the top banana producers?
India, China, Indonesia, Brazil
Name two countries that heavily rely on banana exports for economic growth.
Ecuador
Costa Rica
Guatemala
Where are the top two banana importers?
The USA and the EU
How much revenue do bananas generate annually through global trade
$15 billion
What sparked the ‘Banana Wars’ and which countries were involved?
The EU granted special access to their markets to Caribbean banana farmers. TNCs operating in Latin America opposed this and their host countries (mainly USA) imposed sanctions on EU products causing a trade war.
What was the outcome of the ‘Banana Wars’?
The WTO ruled against the EU who were forced to reduce tariffs on Latin American bananas which negatively impacted the Caribbean farmers as they couldn’t compete with the TNCs’ production prices
Why is the banana trade at risk from disease globally?
Tropical Race 4 (TR4) is a new disease which impacts cavendish bananas (99% of traded bananas). It is resistant to pesticides and can lie dormant for decades. The asexual reproduction of bananas means that every banana plant is at risk unless genetically engineered.
How is the ‘Race To The Bottom’ Impacting global production of bananas?
TNCs are looking for the cheapest place to produce bananas. This is moving production to West Africa as there’s lower social and environmental standards.
What does the outcome of the ‘Banana Wars’ show about the WTO?
it shows that the WTO will prioritise free trade over protectionism and agreements even if they contribute heavily to the economic and social development of individual nations.
What are the two ‘groups’ that dominate the world trade of bananas?
Latin-American plantations controlled by vertically-integrated USA-based TNCs
African, Caribbean, Pacific (ACP) producers which are mainly small-medium size producers
