11.   Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and St. Lucia, which hosted the summit, are the small eastern Caribbean nations most dependent on banana exports.

12.   Despite preferences, Jamaica has not been able to fulfill its quota of banana exports to Europe for several years.

13.   Dominica earns the vast majority of its foreign exchange from protected banana exports to Europe.

14.   For years, James has pushed unsuccessfully for Dominica to change its emphasis from banana exports to shipping and marketing.

15.   He said the threats come at a delicate time, as the United States also cuts back foreign aid and challenges lucrative European protections for Caribbean banana exports.

16.   In Jamaica, banana exports to Europe are second only to sugar in export earnings.

17.   In January, the World Trade Organization will hear a U.S. complaint that Caribbean banana exports compete unfairly in Europe.

18.   James has pushed unsuccessfully for years to get Dominica to change its emphasis from banana exports to shipping and marketing.

19.   James for years has pushed unsuccessfully for Dominica to change its emphasis from banana exports to shipping and marketing.

20.   Many farmers switched to other crops amid the demise of preferential treatment granted Caribbean banana exports on the European Market.