The Register® — Biting the hand that feeds IT

Feeds

Europe must cut duties on US gadgets

Set-top box and printer tax illegal, reports

The World Trade Organisation has ruled that EU import duties on certain gadgets imported from the US, Japan and Taiwan are illegal.

An agreement reached in 1996 removed import tariffs on 72 different products in order to boost trade in technology goods.

But the European Union later moved some of these items into a taxable bracket because it now regards them as consumer items rather than high-technology devices.

This decision led to import duties of between six and 14 per cent being levied on set-top boxes, multi-function printers and flatscreen displays, according to Reuters The decision was secretly distributed last week but quickly found its way to news services.

An official from a complaining country - either US, Japan or Taiwan - told the newswire the panel accepted most of their arguments.

It is due to be officially published in August. After publication the EU has 60 days to appeal the decision. ®

They tax Apple Lemon's?

Apple Leon 4's shouldn't be subject to duty as they don't work (properly).

P.S. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is an international forum where American trade advantages are advanced and GM food is propagated throughout the world.

7
1

Fairs fair

I'm sure by now, after losing several times at the WTO, the US now allows online betting from outside its borders.

No?

Well why should anyone give a flying **** what the US thinks if it won't abide by the WTO verdict?

Their high tech exports can be zero rated when they drop their puritanical banning of online gambling. Until that time, sit and swivel yanky.

4
0
Anonymous Coward

The Americans ignore the WTO most of the time

The US ignores the WTO most of the time. They have been deemed to breach regulations repeatedly over the years and have never done anything about it.

They ignore the rulings when it suits them and attempt to get them enforced when it suits them.

4
0

Yep...

It should be called the *American* Trade Organisation.

They are very keen on "globalisation". They call it that so you don't realise that it means being owned by *America*.

4
1

Confused...

How can it be 'illegal, is the WTO a court?

Surely it must be against 'agreed rules by WTO parties', where would it be enshrined in law?

Any lawyers able to comment?

2
0

More from The Register

Microsoft reveals Xbox One, the console that can read your heartbeat
Upgrades Live service – and no always-on requirement
 breaking news
US boffin builds 32-way Raspberry Pi cluster
Beowulf cluster built for the price of a single PC
Review: HP Pavilion 14 Chromebook
All roads lead to Chrome?
HTC woes prompts 'leave now' tweet from former staffer
Chief product officer latest to bail from sinking mobe-maker
Euro PC shipments plummet into bottomless pit of DOOOOM
11th quarter of decline, 20pc drop on last year - Gartner
Nintendo throws flaming legal barrel at YouTubing fans
All your walk-through vid revenue are belong to us
Review: Sony Xperia SP
The new mid-range marvel? Oh yes.