| Abstract: | The Mediterranean Associates (non-EC Mediterranean countries with preferential trading agreements with the Communities) seem likely to suffer considerable disadvantage from the accession of Spain and Portugal to the EC. Spain is a major exporter of fruit and vegetables and has recently become the EC's major supplier of imported fruit and vegetables. Through EC membership, tariffs and other forms of protection against Spanish produce will be removed to give Spain further competitive advantage in EC markets. The EC's increased self sufficiency will inevitably mean poorer marketing opportunities within the EC for non-EC suppliers. These factors, along with the static (or only slowly increasing) demand for imported fruit and vegetables, seem to point to worsening trading conditions for the Mediterranean Associates within the Communities. |
