[What a splendid way to help out U.S. Internet firms that are already having financial troubles. --Declan] ******* Background: http://www.politechbot.com/p-00965.html http://www.politechbot.com/p-01225.html ******* http://quote.bloomberg.com/fgcgi.cgi?mnu=news&ptitle=Technology%20UK&tp=ad_uknews&T=news_storypage99.ht&ad=uktechnology&s=AOuBwwxXORVUgQ2xv 04/20 18:24 EU Close to Taxing Digital Products Downloaded From Internet By James G. Neuger Malmoe, Sweden, April 20 (Bloomberg) -- European Union governments are close to imposing a tax on music and software downloaded on the Internet from outside Europe by EU citizens, EU Financial Services Commissioner Frits Bolkestein said. The proposal, which could spark a clash with the U.S., would set a value-added tax on all ``digital'' products sold to EU customers. Currently EU businesses levy that tax, while their non- European rivals are exempt. The 15 governments are working on a compromise to share the tax revenues, so that ``we are nearing an agreement,'' Bolkestein said at a meeting of EU finance ministers. ``It may take another couple of months.'' ******** EU to turn US e-tailers into Euro tax gatherers Apr. 21, 2001 12:35 ET http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/23/18430.html ******** ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if it remains intact. To subscribe, visit http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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