US complains that EU tech tariffs violate WTO agreement

The United States and Japan have filed World Trade Organization (WTO) complaints seeking elimination of tariffs imposed by the European Union on a variety of electronics products including LCD monitors and televisions, satellite Internet devices, and multifunction printers. These tariffs are said to be a violation of the 1996 Information Technology Agreement (ITA), through which 70 WTO members have committed to facilitate duty-free trade of a wide range of IT products.

The EU contends that the tariffs have only been applied to products with new functionality that is not covered under the terms of the ITA. The US says that the tariffs are not permissible and are stifling technological progress and innovation in a manner that runs counter to the intent of the agreement.