WTO to investigate EU tech tariffs

Posted on 23 Sep 2008 at 13:35

The World Trade Organization has begun an examination of EU tariffs on imported high-tech goods, following a complaint from the US, Japan and Taiwan.

The international trade body will investigate whether the tariffs on flat-panel computer displays, cable and satellite boxes that can access the internet, and multifunction printers that can also scan, fax and copy are legal. The tariffs can be as high as 14%.

The US, Japan and Taiwan claim these tariffs go against a 1996 agreement that ended import duties on IT products.

The EU has proposed scrapping these tariffs by redrawing that agreement. It says the goods mentioned in the complaint are not covered as they are all technologies that have been introduced subsequently.

It further argues that it has tried to resolve the issues through negotiations, but that the three countries have not shown any willingness to reach an agreement. The US government says the opposite is true.

"We spent over two years trying to work with the (EU) to address our concerns, without success," it complains in its submission to the WTO.

Author: Simon Aughton

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