Banana Wars

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It should come as no surprise that Chiquita's chairman, Carl Lindner, is a man whose calls to Washington are returned, and quickly. In the past few years, he and his family have contributed $3.9 million to the two major political parties, and Lindner has been a guest in the Lincoln Bedroom.

But even folks who buy access sometimes have a strong case. "There is no issue that is less attractive for us to go to a trade dispute on," admits USTR spokesman Jay Ziegler, referring to Lindner's political connections. "But the fact is, the banana dispute has evolved into a crucial test" of the enforceability of rulings by the World Trade Organization, which, to no avail, ordered the E.U. to drop its banana restrictions by Jan. 1. Rising concern about the U.S. trade deficit--up 50% in 1998 and expected to rise as much as 80% in 1999--has critics clamoring. Last month Senate majority leader Trent Lott, in a letter to President Clinton, warned, "If the Administration will not take action to protect trade agreements, Congress will have no choice but to take action on its own."

That would mean increased sanctions and higher prices for imported goods like model trains or--hey, what's your favorite food or hobby?