WTO sides with U.S. on EU tech trade dispute

WTO sides with U.S. on EU tech trade dispute    A World Trade Organization dispute settlement panel on Monday upheld the U.S. claim that the European Union violated its WTO tariff commitments by imposing duties as high as 14 percent on three high-tech products.
   For the three products at issue — flat-panel computer monitors; multifunction printers; and certain cable, satellite, and other set-top boxes — the panel concluded the EU tariffs were inconsistent with its obligations.
   The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said the report helps ensure that U.S. high-tech products may be exported to Europe duty-free as guaranteed by commitments made by the European Union following the WTO Information Technology Agreement.

Kirk

   'This is an important victory for U.S. technology manufacturers and workers,' said U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, in a statement. 'This ruling affirms the principle that changes in technology are not an excuse to apply new duties to products covered by the Information Technology Agreement.'
   The EU claimed it could charge duties on the high-tech products because they incorporate newer technologies or additional features.
   The United States, along with Japan and Chinese Taipei, brought this case in 2008, to address a series of EU actions resulting in the imposition of new duties on imports of high-tech products covered by the ITA. According to the USTR, global exports of these products were estimated at over $44 billion in 2009. ' Chris Gillis