EC CRITICIZES US TRADE BARRIERS REGULATIONS

EC CRITICIZES U.S. TRADE BARRIERS, REGULATIONS
    The European Commission has criticized what it regards as trade barriers and discriminatory regulations by the United States.
    "A considerable number of impediments, ranging from more traditional tariff and non-tariff barriers, to differences in the legal and regulatory systems … still need to be tackled," the EC said in its annual report on U.S. barriers to trade and investment.
    According to the report, U.S. tariff barriers have been substantially reduced in successive rounds of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. But EU exports face "a number of additional customs impediments, such as the customs user fees and the excessive invoicing requirements on importers."
    The Brussels agency criticized "the discriminatory nature" of the U.S. Harbor Maintenance Tax, still collected on imports, and the proposed new Harbor Service Fee.
    On air transport, the EC said that it has concerns over U.S. air security regulations and foreign ownership restrictions in air transport.
    Concerning maritime transport, the EC mentioned U.S.-flag restrictions on domestic shipping (the Jones Act) and on U.S. federal program shipments. The EC said that it is also "disappointed" that the U.S. did not table an offer at the previous World Trade Negotiations on maritime transport.