IN BRIEF : Europeans Plan Duties on U.S. Fruit in Retaliation for Sanctions

European trade representatives say they will seek permission to slap stiff duties on U.S. imports of dried fruit and walnuts to retaliate against sanctions on European products.

Any such approval would escalate a trade dispute between the United States and the European Economic Community sparked by a European ban on imports of American meat treated with growth hormones.

Nico Wegter, an EEC spokesman, said today that representatives of the 12 nations making up the Common Market trading bloc will receive a proposal calling for the retaliatory measures.

The plan, drawn up by the bloc’s executive body, the European Commission, will be offered to counter sanctions that the United States put into effect Sunday to retaliate against the European meat ban.

American officials have raised the possibility of taking more actions against the Europeans if the trading bloc strikes back.

Wegter said the proposal recommends imposing 100% tariffs on dried fruit and walnut imports from the United States. An earlier list had included honey and canned corn.