Post by theravenking on Oct 4, 2019 13:02:09 GMT
The United States is set to impose tariffs on $7.5bn (£6.1bn) of goods it imports from the European Union, including books, in a move branded "completely unacceptable" by the Publishers Association.
The tariffs are the latest clash in a 15-year battle between the US and EU over illegal subsidies for Airbus and US rival Boeing, after the World Trade Organisation (WTO), gave Washington the green light to impose the tariffs as punishment for illegal EU aircraft subsidies.
As a result of yesterday's WTO ruling, the US will slap tariffs on hundreds of EU products, including printed books from Germany and the UK.
The US trade representative’s office released a list of hundreds of European products, including Scotch and Irish whiskies, French wine, coffee, cheese and olives, that will be subject to a 25% tariff. The US will slap 10% tariffs on European-made Airbus planes, with the tax to come into effect by 18th October.
Stephen Lotinga, chief executive of the Publishers Association, said it is "completely unacceptable that book exports are collateral damage" in the dispute.
In 2018, UK publishers exported printed books worth £128m in invoiced value to North America.
Lotinga said: “We are deeply concerned about this development and raised it immediately with the Department for International Trade and the Intellectual Property Office. It is completely unacceptable that book exports are collateral damage in an unconnected trade matter. We will continue to argue in the strongest possible terms against tariffs that could be damaging to the trade and are in nobody’s interest.”
The tariffs come after the US imposed tariffs on books from China in an escalating trade war with Beijing, earlier this year.
The tariffs are the latest clash in a 15-year battle between the US and EU over illegal subsidies for Airbus and US rival Boeing, after the World Trade Organisation (WTO), gave Washington the green light to impose the tariffs as punishment for illegal EU aircraft subsidies.
As a result of yesterday's WTO ruling, the US will slap tariffs on hundreds of EU products, including printed books from Germany and the UK.
The US trade representative’s office released a list of hundreds of European products, including Scotch and Irish whiskies, French wine, coffee, cheese and olives, that will be subject to a 25% tariff. The US will slap 10% tariffs on European-made Airbus planes, with the tax to come into effect by 18th October.
Stephen Lotinga, chief executive of the Publishers Association, said it is "completely unacceptable that book exports are collateral damage" in the dispute.
In 2018, UK publishers exported printed books worth £128m in invoiced value to North America.
Lotinga said: “We are deeply concerned about this development and raised it immediately with the Department for International Trade and the Intellectual Property Office. It is completely unacceptable that book exports are collateral damage in an unconnected trade matter. We will continue to argue in the strongest possible terms against tariffs that could be damaging to the trade and are in nobody’s interest.”
The tariffs come after the US imposed tariffs on books from China in an escalating trade war with Beijing, earlier this year.
