The trade dispute between the United States and the European Union over bananas blends together issues of developing country preferences, quota allocation schemes, trade dispute rules, multilateral trading firms, competition for market shares, political sensitivities, and small-farmer alternatives to traditional crops. Josling (international studies, Stanford U.) and Taylor (food and resource economics, U. of Florida) present 10 chapters that explore these issues, attempting to draw generalized conclusions for the overall global trade system. The historical economic development of the banana trade is outlined, followed by a discussion of the evolution of EU policy. The WTO banana case is explored in some detail.