EU aims to comply with WTO ruling in dispute over monitors, cable boxes with US, Japan, Taiwan

EU aims to comply with WTO ruling on tech tariffs

GENEVA — The European Union says it will comply with a trade ruling that condemned the bloc for illegally collecting tariffs on billions of dollars (euros) worth of high-tech exports from the United States, Japan and Taiwan.

EU trade spokesman John Clancy said the EU passed up the chance to appeal the World Trade Organization verdict on Tuesday, even though it objected to some of the findings.

The WTO’s August decision found that the 27-nation union broke rules by levying duties on flat-panel computer monitors, cable and satellite boxes that can access the Internet, and printers that can also scan, fax and copy.

The United States, Japan and Taiwan argued that those products should be accepted tax-free under a 1996 agreement on information technology equipment.