WTO Market Access Committee Debates China, India Restrictions On IT, Russia’s GIs On Wine

In the World Trade Organization Market Access Committee today, a range of member countries raised concern over China’s tariffs on semiconductors and India’s duties on a range of information technology products. In addition, the European Union raised concern over uneven application of lower tariffs for geographically indicated wines, favouring local producers.

According to a Geneva trade official, at the 22 September meeting, six WTO members expressed concern over tariff increases by China that took effect at the start of the year, arguing that they violate China’s commitments under the WTO Information Technology Agreement (ITA).

Complaints came from the United States, European Union, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Singapore. The EU said some duty rates rose from 0 percent to 3.4 percent.

Separately, 11 WTO members (Canada, the EU, Japan, the US, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Switzerland, Korea, Thailand, Australia, and Norway) restated previous concerns over India’s customs duties on information technology products such as smartphones, base stations, and printer ink cartridges, the trade official said.

And the official said the EU expressed concern over Russia’s tax on imported wines. The EU said Russia applies lower tax rates to “geographically-indicated and protected wines,” but only for locally made ones. Russia replied that it is still considering the issue.

The meeting was chaired by Ahmed El Libedy of Egypt. The next meeting of the committee is scheduled for 22 March 2018.