Request to expand ITA product coverage
Cologne, 16 September 2014
We, the Camera & Imaging Industry Associations, hereby state ourstrongest support for WTO negotiations aimed at expanding the productcoverage of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA).
We therefore welcome and fully support the APEC’s statements reproduced
below and released in Qingdao, China, on 18 May 2014:“APEC to support Multilateral Trading System”“We (APEC) underscore the importance of ITA expansion negotiations. We
welcome that key participants have committed to find creative ways to move
forward so that these negotiations can move towards a commerciallysignificant and balanced conclusion in the shortest timeframe possible.”
By promoting and increasing trade in IT products, the ITA has brought
important benefits for consumers while also contributing to growth andinnovation in the global economy. Despite these uncontested benefits, anddespite the obligation imposed by the agreement on the parties toperiodically review its product coverage in order to take into accounttechnological developments, the ITA has not been reviewed since its
conclusion in 1996.
In particular, we would like to emphasize the importance of includinginterchangeable lenses for digital cameras in any expansion of the productcoverage of the ITA. Lenses for digital cameras are sophisticatedtechnological products which are moreover essential for the functioning ofdigital cameras and must as a result be among the products covered by theITA.
Technological developments have made such lenses essential andinseparable parts of digital cameras. Digital cameras cannot function
without appropriate lenses. Moreover, modern interchangeable lenses for
digital cameras do not rely on optical technology only but on sophisticatedelectric and digital technologies incorporated into the lenses themselves. Inaddition, complex interactive communication between the cameras and thelenses is necessary for the camera to control the functions performed by the“lenses” (e.g. auto focusing and image stabilization).
We therefore request that interchangeable lenses for digital cameras beincluded in any new product list which may result from the negotiations toexpand the ITA product coverage.
1. Asociacia Dovozcov Audiovizualnej Techniky (ADAT, Slovakia), 2. Associacao Empresarial das Sectores Electrico,Electrodomestico, Fotografico e Electronico (AGEFE, Portugal), 3. Associazione Italiana Foto & Digital Imaging(AIF, Italy), 4. Asociatia Producatorilor si Distribuitorilor de Echipamente de Technologia Informatiei sicomunicatiilor (APDETIC, Romania), 5. Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA, Japan), 6. Elektroniikan
Tukkukauppiaat ry (ETK ry, Finland), 7. Fotobranchens Leverandorforening (Denmark), 8. IT Association ofSlovakia (ITAS, Slovakia), 9. Photographic Arts Federation of Turkey (PAFT, Turkey), 10. Photoindustie-Verband
e.V. (PIV, Germany), 11. Photo Marketing Association International (PMA, UK), 12. Photo Marketing AssociationInternational (PMA, USA), 13. Greek Manufacturers, Distributors & Dealers of Photo Products and Image Systems
Association (SEKAF, Greece), 14. Sindycat des Enterprises de L’image de la Photo et de la Communication (SIPEC,France)
For further information contact: tiawg@cipa.jp

Request to ensure that digital cameras benefit
from duty-free treatment in India
Cologne, 16 September 2014
1. Our Basic Standpoint
We, the Camera & Imaging Industry Associations, hereby state ourstrongest support for WTO negotiations aimed at expanding the productcoverage of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) to take sufficientaccount of the latest technological developments. We hope that thesenegotiations will facilitate the continuation of the benefits that come fromthe ITA’s important contributions to the use of IT products by consumers
as well as the ITA’s support for global free trade and steady economic
growth. We would however also like to emphasize that compliance withthe existing ITA rules is equally important and essential.
2. Facts in India
Following the termination of the transitional period in 2005, digital
cameras have correctly benefited from duty-free treatment in India.
However, in March 2014, without disclosing any official reasons, theGovernment of India suddenly introduced import tariffs of 10% on digital
cameras.
Various industry associations have petitioned the Government of India toremedy this situation urgently. Bilateral negotiations have also takenplace in an attempt to find a solution. Despite all efforts being made, thisissue remains unresolved, and, to the best of our knowledge, India is theonly ITA member which currently imposes tariffs on imports of digital
cameras.
3. Our Request
In accordance with the basic philosophy of the ITA, we strongly request
the Government of India to remove with immediate effect the unjustified
10% import tariff currently applicable to digital cameras.
We would also like to emphasize that, aside from the issue hereby raisedwith regard to digital cameras, any unjustified and restrictive
administrative measures which may compromise the application of theITA as a whole must also be lifted.

1. Asociacia Dovozcov Audiovizualnej Techniky (ADAT, Slovakia), 2. Associacao Empresarial das Sectores Electrico,Electrodomestico, Fotografico e Electronico (AGEFE, Portugal), 3. Associazione Italiana Foto & Digital Imaging(AIF, Italy), 4. Asociatia Producatorilor si Distribuitorilor de Echipamente de Technologia Informatiei sicomunicatiilor (APDETIC, Romania), 5. Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA, Japan), 6. Elektroniikan
Tukkukauppiaat ry (ETK ry, Finland), 7. Fotobranchens Leverandorforening (Denmark), 8. IT Association ofSlovakia (ITAS, Slovakia), 9. Photographic Arts Federation of Turkey (PAFT, Turkey), 10. Photoindustie-Verband
e.V. (PIV, Germany), 11. Photo Marketing Association International (PMA, UK), 12. Photo Marketing Association
International (PMA, USA), 13. Greek Manufacturers, Distributors & Dealers of Photo Products and Image Systems
Association (SEKAF, Greece), 14. Sindycat des Enterprises de L’image de la Photo et de la Communication (SIPEC,France)
For further information contact: tiawg@cipa.jp