price rise planned for high end japanese camera's, in case your buying one soon... (1 Viewer)

[ann post]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070717/tc_nm/eu_cameras_trade_dc_1

RUSSELS (Reuters) - Some top-end digital cameras entering the European Union could become more expensive after trade experts decided their advanced video functions meant they should be classed as video recorders, which attract import duties. if(window.yzq_d==null)window.yzq_d=new Object(); window.yzq_d['uZNGAESOxJc-']='&U=13b3samod%2fN%3duZNGAESOxJc-%2fC%3d600690.11072713.11656526.2498248%2fD%3dLREC%2fB%3d4744995';

Digital cameras are imported into the 27-nation EU tariff-free but video recorders are subject to duties starting at 4.9 percent.
The Tokyo-based Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA), whose members include Nikon Corp, Canon Inc, and Sony Corp, has previously said it was concerned about a possible EU customs duty on digital cameras.
In 2006, shipments of Japanese digital cameras to Europe were worth about $5 billion.
An EU official said on Tuesday the change was unlikely to affect cameras sold to ordinary consumers as it related to the more expensive models that have very good video recording capability.
The EU trade experts decided last Friday that to be classified as a digital camera, equipment must not be able to record at least 30 minutes of a single sequence of video in a quality of 800 x 600 pixels or higher at 23 frames per second or higher.
Some camcorders that fall short of those specifications could enter the EU duty-free in future, the EU official said.
The European Commission is likely to formally adopt the decision of the EU trade experts within two or three months.

 

[classic seanc]

Re: price rise planned for high end japanese camera's, in case your buying one soon..

Interesting, but I can't see it happening tbh.

 

[ann post]

Re: price rise planned for high end japanese camera's, in case your buying one soon..

i had a theory that its actually a precursor to the up and coming uber-mobile-phone market... like: this seems like something that you could have on your phone pretty soon: "30 minutes of a single sequence of video in a quality of 800 x 600 pixels or higher at 23 frames" - taken ipod/pda levels of memory into account, and the demand for better phonecams. i reckoned nokia or whoever is european based just want to make sure they stay well ahead of eastern competition. its been a long running thing that the 'EU', the irish, the brits slap huge taxes on foreign produce to protect the 'local' manufacturers

 

[Space]

Re: price rise planned for high end japanese camera's, in case your buying one soon..

One important thing to note is that high end digital cameras such as slrs don't have a video function at all. So I reckon you'd be right in thinking it's to do with mobiles.

 

[classic seanc]

Re: price rise planned for high end japanese camera's, in case your buying one soon..

its been a long running thing that the 'EU', the irish, the brits slap huge taxes on foreign produce to protect the 'local' manufacturers

Yeah, but it's anathema to the whole European/global free market economy thing that all the big business and political suits are mad for. The protectionism thing is as good as gone altogether at a European level.
It might happen I guess, there are plenty of big important electronics companies in Europe, but it'll be gone again before you know it. They might use it as a bargaining chip next time the OECD get's together.

Maybe. It's been a while since I studied this sort of thing. And I didn't study it very well at the time.

 

[RSJ]

Re: price rise planned for high end japanese camera's, in case your buying one soon..

Possibly a stupid question, but would camera stuff be cheaper in japan or hong kong? Just thinking i could take a quick trip over while in the region at christmas to grab some gear.