Around a flat-panel display, China Korea sharp-flat-panel TVs, monitors, LCD, Samsung, WTO, tariff-IT news
Around a flat-panel display, China Korea sharp contradictions

Participate in the latest IT products 80 WTO members on December 12 of the tariff negotiations continue to reach this historic agreement started their charge. However, countries such as China and South Korea over flat-panel display (LCD display) the inclusion in the scope of duty-free products divisions, can dream in doubt.

This is called the information technology agreement (ITA) spread around the negotiating members covering 96% of the global trade in IT products. On December 4 to 10th in the original negotiation period, as the world's leading LCD producer, Korea has tried to draw a flat panel displays are also incorporated into the tariff-free product listing, while China expressed opposition. This disagreement led to the current round of negotiations for two days, ending on 12th.

Early last month, the Sino-US agreement on the ITA spread around after the breakthrough, there had been generally optimistic about the protracted tug of war at the end of the month, 200 species of IT products included in the product range of tariff relief; this first tariff concession agreement since the WTO was founded, and ultimately benefit all 160 members of the WTO.

Differences around a flat-panel display is not included in the Sino-US bilateral agreement. Both sides announced on November 12 that news is, agrees to semiconductors, medical devices, global positioning systems and other products into the scope of tariff cuts. ITA spread around which has been eventually reached an agreement clearing the main obstacle.

"After the Sino-US agreement would exclude flat panel displays, Korea had pulled out of the ITA negotiations spread around, before returning. A pundit who knows the talks told the 21st century business Herald that "Taiwan (region) are also being considered in the flat panel display and on the charging device to do the same (negotiation) policy. ”

The person told added that due to Korea and Taiwan will negotiate free trade agreements with Beijing, have tended to get exclusive (not shared with other members of the WTO), trade preferences, so this time both sides threats for reasons of faith, which cannot be determined and directly negotiate a free trade agreement with China by Australia, also had some concerns at this time.

"So I suspect that Seoul and Taipei may have been from the United States (effects) to make political concessions. "The people close to the matter said," but if the claimed agreement to bury someone you need to, it would have been merely a negotiating tactic. Korea and Taiwan's information, communications and technology industries depend on the ITA deal. ”

EU is the host of this round of ITA negotiations spread around. EU Ambassador to the WTO panggelatisi (Angelos Pangratis) 11th in Geneva said this week completed negotiations is essential. "We now need to focus on. If further delayed, it will be not easy, even opposite. ”

Information technology products totaled US $ 4 trillion a year, covering the top one-fifth of the global trade in goods. Negotiated in 1996 agreement on information technology has lagged behind this booming global demand for IT products and trade liberalization. This time, spread around the success of the negotiations, will be worth $ 1 trillion increase in global trade in IT products.

Trade in the financial times quoted an anonymous official as saying, Korea and Taiwan are seeking concessions in other areas of China, in order to exchange the two sides withdraw its asking price for flat-panel displays. Also expressed the hope that the EU can make small concessions on the car radio. The newspaper reported that China has insisted it would not make concessions in the flat panel display. "The Chinese side during the talks indicates this is the red line at the outset. ”

United States think-tank, the information technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) story in the South China Morning Post predicted that China will in the greater range of IT products duty exemptions from tariffs on about $ 8 billion, and increase by 12 billion dollars a year in exports.

The Foundation's analysts said Sino-Korean bilateral agreements in 2006 for flat-panel displays have been developed a 10-year transition period of zero tariff, now only has two years left. "China is worried about its domestic market has been large-scale dumping of cheap flat panel display products from other countries. ”

As of 21st century business Herald reporter, there is this round of ITA spread around news of the final outcome of negotiations. WTO Director-General Azevedo (Roberto Azevedo) said that an enlarged ITA agreement would bring big positive to the WTO and the multilateral trading system.