A lot of heat has been generated by the war of words between the US and the EU over the latter's policy on banana imports.

Both sides have been at pains to strike a pose of righteous indignation as witnessed in the words of EU Trade Commissioner, Sir Leon Brittan when the US decided to unilaterally impose bonds on importers of certain produce to the US to ensure money would be available, back-dated to its deadline, when the WTO eventually ruled on the dispute. He fulminated about the "unacceptable and unlawful" action by the US.

However, this week as WTO chief Renato Ruggiero urged both parties to sort out their differences, it emerged that even EU officials were prepared to acknowledge that the new banana import arrangements - amended since the last trade body adjudication went against the EU - were unlikely to be given a clean bill of health. "They will probably find something out of line," said Mr Rod Abbot, the EU's ambassador to the WTO.

Knowing this, the EU has been prepared to undermine the entire dispute settlement system which is a core element of the global trade accord that is the WTO . . . good thinking, people.