The US yesterday dismissed as unacceptable a European Commission proposal to change its banana import practices to conform with World Trade Organisation regulations.

"Our view is that the proposal which the Commission passed continues to discriminate against US and Latin American exports," said Mr Peter Scher, special negotiator in the office of the US Trade Representative.

"We do not view this proposal as acceptable. Our view is that the Commission needs to go back to the drawing board."

The European Commission on Wednesday adopted new regulations governing banana imports that will now be submitted to EU agricultural ministers. The new procedures are necessary in order to conform to a ruling by a dispute settlement panel at the WTO last September.