← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · SARTRE
Thread ID: 14636 | Posts: 1 | Started: 2004-08-06
2004-08-06 20:48 | User Profile
[URL=http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1277394,00.html]EU ends tariff-free Israeli trade [/URL]
Goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories will no longer be allowed to enter the EU tariff-free under an agreement signed yesterday.
Israel and the European commission agreed the deal to end a long-running and politically charged dispute over the "rules of origin" for products from the settlements, which Brussels had said breached Israel's free trade agreement with the EU.
The issue has been a focus for the EU's displeasure at Israeli settlement policies, highlighting differences over the legitimacy of the pre-1967 border.
Goods exported by Israel to the EU will now be labelled with a town of origin as well as the nationality, an Israeli official said. The deal appears to save Israeli face by using the word "Israel", but allows the EU to make its point by charging a tariff on goods from the occupied territories.