The International Imaging Industry Association this week joined with 19 imaging organizations from around the world in making two requests regarding import duties or tariffs: one to the European Union (EU) concerning certain information technology products, and one to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on digital camera equipment.
Two statements were issued at a press conference held at the photokina trade show that is taking place this week in Cologne, Germany. Full texts of the statements and the names of the signatories can be seen on the I3A website and here.
“It is part of I3A's core mission to represent the interests of our members to governmental entities worldwide, in order to ensure that trade issues are dealt with in a just and equitable manner,” said I3A President Lisa Walker. “We gladly stand with organizations that represent so many facets of the international imaging ecosystem, and we hope that our combined efforts will result in a more global view of trade, where borders are less important and less defined and protectionism becomes a thing of the past.”
In the first statement, entitled “Request for observing the Information Technology Agreement (ITA), updating and expanding its product coverage,” the organizations request that the EU fairly observe the concessions granted by the EU following the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) of the World Trade Organization (WTO), pursuant to which the EU committed to eliminate import duties on all Information Technology (IT) products listed in the Annexes to the ITA; that the EU not arbitrarily and unilaterally adopt classification measures concerning IT products that result in dutiable treatment of those products; and that the EU consult with all other ITA member states and regions to realize the EU’s proposal to update and expand product coverage of the ITA.
The second statement, entitled “Request to remove the import tariff (5%) applicable to digital cameras in the United Arab Emirates,” requests that that the UAE immediately remove the import tariff of 5% on digital cameras, as the current tariff treatment for these products in the UAE is contrary to WTO commitments. A similar request has been made, and complied with, in Bahrain and Oman.
I3A will keep its members informed about the progress of these requests.
