Press release 05 February 2009
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications

Sweden and Finland reject customs duties on mobile phones

Six Swedish and Finnish ministers have sent a joint letter to the European Commission today strongly criticising plans to change the classification of mobile telephones in a way that in practice would mean a dramatic rise in customs duties on them.

The ministers warn that the new duties would result in more expensive phones for consumers and weakened competitiveness for an important high-tech and innovation-driven industry. They also highlight the risk that the decision will lead to trade conflicts with other members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Minister for Trade Ewa Björling, Minister for Enterprise and Energy Maud Olofsson and Minister for Communications Åsa Torstensson have signed the letter along with Finland's Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen, Minister of Economic Affairs Mauri Pekkarinen and Minister of Communications Suvi Lindén.

The letter was sent to Commissioners Catherine Ashton, László Kovács, Viviane Reding and Günter Verheugen.