Working Towards A Fair & Sustainable Banana & Pineapple Trade
  • Newsletters
  • Resources
  • Video
  • Contact Us
Banana Link
  • What We Do
    Our ObjectivesOur AchievementsEUROBANWorld Banana ForumRethinking Value ChainsMeet The Team
  • Why We Exist
    All About BananasThe Problem With BananasGood Practices In The Banana IndustryAll About PineapplesSustainability Standards & Certifications
  • Where We Work
    CameroonColombiaCosta RicaEcuadorGhanaGuatemalaHondurasPeruWindward Islands
  • Our Projects
    BananEx (TR4)Banana Occupational Health and Safety Initiative (BOHESI)Education & Empowerment In West AfricaGender Equity Across Supply ChainsImproving & Increasing Women’s EmploymentMake Fruit Fair
  • Trade Unions
    Union-To-Union ProgrammeGMB International Solidarity FundCOLSIBACameroonColombiaCosta RicaEcuadorGhanaGuatemalaHondurasPeru
  • Gender Equity
    Women In The Banana TradeWorld Banana Forum & Gender EquityPractical Progress to Gender EquityGender Equity Across Supply ChainsImproving & Increasing Women’s Employment
  • News & Blog
  • Donate

Ghana signs post-brexit trade deal with UK, but no agreement on tariff refunds

Tuesday, February 9th, 2021 in: News

Ghana and the U.K. have announced the signing of an interim trade agreement which restores the duty-free and quota-free access that Ghanaian exporters had to the U.K. market before Brexit.

A joint statement published by both Governments on 4 February says the Agreement will enter into effect following the completion of relevant internal procedures required in both Ghana and the UK.However, until these internal procedures are completed, import tariffs will continue to be paid on Ghanaian imports, including bananas.

The majority of bananas imported from Ghana are certified Fairtrade, and an indication of the impact of tariffs is that Fairtrade bananas imported since 1st January have been taxed at the rate of 9.5p / kg, where previously no tariff applied. The typical price in the supermarket is 73p / kg and so the tariff represented a massive additional cost for a product already sold at very low margins.

Compagnie Fruitiere, the largest of the Ghanaian producers, is paying roughly £20,000 a week in import tariffs, totalling over £100,000 to date, while Volta River Estates is not far behind, having paid around £90,000 to date. That figure will rise, the longer it takes for the “relevant internal procedures” to be completed, which will be delayed by the fact that the Ghanaian government has just announced a three week break due to a spike in covid infections in the country. 

The rules of “natural justice” might dictate that it would only be fair and reasonable to backdate the trade agreement to 1 January 2021 – the day the UK left the EU – and that import tariffs paid between then and tariff free access being implemented should be refunded. However, the UK Government has resisted lobbying on the issue, saying that the “tariffs were applied correctly”.

Banana Link continues to support the Ghanaian banana industry in it’s lobbying efforts to encourage a change of heart by the UK Government.


Sources: Bloomberg, Department for International Trade, Fairtrade Foundation, Banana Producers Association of Ghana

Photo: Banana Link

https://vimeo.com/238548150?loop=0

Recent Posts

  • Video podcast: El cultivo del plátano en las islas canarias
  • Video podcast: Banana farming in the Canary Islands
  • Shocking increase in the number of agricultural workers and farmers harmed by pesticides
  • Thousands protest in Martinique against banana pesticide ‘impunity’
  • Trade union training school for Peruvian agroindustrial workers launched
  • Concern for banana livelihoods in hurricane ravaged Honduras
  • Britain’s largest trade union supports Costa Rican plantation workers
  • Ghana signs post-brexit trade deal with UK, but no agreement on tariff refunds
  • German retailers aim for fair working conditions and living wages for banana workers in Ecuador
  • Nicaraguan workers hopeful of improved collective bargaining agreements

Categories

  • Banana Trade Blog
  • News

More News
From Banana Link

6th March 2021 Video podcast: El cultivo del plátano en las islas canarias

6th March 2021 Video podcast: Banana farming in the Canary Islands

2nd March 2021 Shocking increase in the number of agricultural workers and farmers harmed by pesticides

Get Involved

Newsletter
Donate
Contact Us
Banana Link  

49 Colegate
Norwich
NR3 1DD
United Kingdom

Navigation

  • Home
  • About Us
  • All About Bananas
  • All About Pineapples
  • Trade Unions
  • Gender Equity
  • News & Blog
  • Our Partners
  • Our Projects
  • Newsletters
  • Contact Us
  • Sitemap
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settings Read More
ACCEPT REJECT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.