Irish lawyer Philip Lee was part of a small bit of history this week.

Representing the 70 ACP countries in the long-running banana dispute, also involving the US and the EU, he was part of the first group of private sector lawyers allowed to appear before the World Trade Organisation appelate court. In the past only government employees have been allowed to put forward trade cases.

The banana dispute is not simple. But the basic story involves the US leading a group which is objecting to the arrangement under which the EU imports bananas from the poorer ACP states. A decision is expected in December and has implications for Fyffes, which imports bananas from the Caribbean.