21.   Technological advances were likely to be overshadowed, however, by an ongoing dispute between U.S. and Caribbean banana companies over access to the European market.

22.   The United States, which has large banana companies like Chiquita operating in Latin America, and several other Latin American countries complained the system amounted to unfair discrimination.

23.   The United States sanctions are meant to equal the lost sales claimed by U.S.-owned banana companies.

24.   The United States, home of large banana companies with big operations in Latin America, argued that the EU rules amounted to unfair discrimination.

25.   U.S. and Latin American banana companies are fighting the preferential treatment the European market gives to Caribbean bananas.

26.   U.S. banana companies are pressuring the European Union to levy higher tariffs against Caribbean fruit growers, who currently enjoy preferential access to the European market.