According to CNN.com today, the United States has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) over European tariffs over three classes of high-tech goodies, including the coveted flat-panel computer monitor and some printers. The Information Technology Industry Council (itic.org) says the duties, or taxes, are as high as 14% making United States exports less competitive due to the higher price. The group’s members include Hewlett-Packard, Apple and Cisco Systems. The complaint, which charges the EU’s taxes go against the WTO’s 1996 agreement banning tariffs on information technology equipment, is strongly backed by the US high-tech industry ($$).
“This case is about the EU’s systematic failure to live up to its international obligations,” said Rhett Dawson, President of ITI. “The EU’s willful disregard of its commitments harms America’s innovative high-tech firms and their workers, who face an uneven playing field in Europe because of the arbitrary tariffs. We appreciate Ambassador Schwab’s resolve to enforce U.S. trade agreements and look forward to the EU coming into compliance.”
What does this mean to the everyday stateside Apple enthusiasts? Absolutely nothin. But to those of us who hold stake in APPL, until this situation is cleaned up, it could be a while before we see Apple’s sales shine in the international markets.
