Fruit producer and reefer owner Chiquita announced a $1bn alliance with Irish rival Fyffes in March.

The European Commission also directed both companies not to sign any other exclusive deals with shipowners for 10 years.

Nor should owners be provided with incentives for refusing to carry their competitors’ fruit.

Chiquita agreed to pay more than $500m for Fyffes in an all-stock deal to create the world’s largest banana company.

The