_______________________________________
Request to remove the import tariff (5%)
applicable to digital cameras inthe United Arab Emirates
Cologne, 22 September 2010

1. Background

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), as a member of theInformation Technology Agreement (ITA), submitted its
Schedule of concessions to the World Trade Organization(WTO) on 31 July 2007, in which it agreed to remove
import tariffs on digital still image video cameras (ex HS852540*) from the beginning of 2009.
Note:*HS 852540 applicable to “digital still image videocameras” has been replaced by HS 852580 applicable to“digital cameras” according to the 2007 HS revision
made by the World Customs Organization (WCO).

2. Facts

According to the import declarations issued by theCustoms authorities in the UAE, we have found that theimport tariff (5%) has still been imposed on digitalcameras since 2009. In addition, the import tariff isapplied when digital cameras are imported into the UAE
directly from abroad. It has also been established that
digital cameras are subject to duties in the UAE when they
are temporarily stored in a Free Trade Zone (e.g., Dubai),before being transported to other GCC member states,
such as Oman and Bahrain, which are also bound by thecommitment to grant duty-free treatment to digital
cameras as members of the ITA.
In February 2010, representatives from our colleague
industry association visited a UAE official (the WTOrepresentative) and discussed this issue in detail in order
to arrive at a satisfactory solution. The industry
association has also been requesting a meeting with theUAE’s Dubai Customs and the Federal Customs
Authority. However, such meeting has not yet taken place
and as a result, digital cameras are still subject to duty.

FOTOMKE3. Our concern and request

The industry associations which represent the digitalcameras business would like to request that the UAE
remove the import tariff (5%) on digital cameras withimmediate effect, since we believe that the current tariff
treatment for these products in the UAE is clearly contrary
to WTO commitments.
Finally, in view of the worldwide business environment
being promoted by the ITA, we also believe that theduty-free treatment of digital cameras will certainly help
consumers in the UAE to purchase more IT products,
including digital cameras, and that it will furthermore
contribute to steady economic growth and global free trade.

- end _____________________________________________________________________________

1. Asociacia Dovozcov Audiovizualnej Techniky (ADAT, Slovakia), 2. Associazione
Italiana Foto & Digital Imaging (AIF, Italy), 3. Associacao Empresarial das SectoresElectrico, Electrodomestico, Fotografico e Electronico (AGEFE, Portugal), 4. AsociatiaProducatorilor si Distribuitorilor de Echipamente de Technologia Informatiei sicomunicatiilor (APDETIC, Romania), 5. Bulgarian Association of Information Technologies(bait, Bulgaria), 6. Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA, Japan), 7. Elektronik
Branschen (Sweden) , 8. Electro ni kkbrans jen (No rway), 9. Elektroniikan
Tukkukauppiaat ry (ETK ry, Finland) 10. Fotobranchens Leverandorforening (Denmark),
11. Association of the Hungarian Representatives of the Photo machineries Manufacturers(FOTOMKE, Hungary), 12. International Imaging Industry Association (i3a, USA), 13.
Photo Imaging Council (pic, UK), 14. Photoindustie-Verband e.V. (PIV, Germany), 15. photo& imaging association (PIA, Belgium / Luxemburg), 16. Photo Marketing Association
International (PMA, USA), 17. Greek Manufacturers, Distributors & Dealers of Photo
Products and Image Systems Association (SEKAF, Greece), 18. Sindycat des Enterprises deL’image de la Photo et de la Communication (SIPEC, France), 19. Photographic Arts
Federation of Turkey (TFSF, Turkey) , 20. ZIPSEE (Poland)_____________________________________________________________________________For further information contact: info@cipa.jp