German Court Case to Set Precedent for EU Treatment of Israeli Settlement Products
source: http://www.alternativenews.org/english/2018-german-court-case-to-set-precedent-for-eu-treatm...
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customs court case in Hamburg, Germany may end up setting a precedent for the treatment of products created in Israeli settlements, for all European Union member-states. The case is as follows, according to Der Spiegel: Brita GmbH (a German company) was importing water-carbonation machines and products from Ma’ale Adumim company Soda-Club into Germany. Brita had been labeling the products from the West Bank settlement as “Made in Israel”, thus exempting the goods from duty taxes. Soda-Club’s own website lists their factory’s location as Israel, but German customs officials disagree. Der Spiegel reports that when they contacted Soda-Club to find out exactly where the products were made, the cryptic response of “under Israeli customs administration” was given. When the officials pressed for an exact response regarding settlements, they received no answer, and thus a duty was applied. Brita is now in a Hamburg court, fighting the decision of customs officials to subject products made in Israeli settlements to duties, when those produced in Israel proper are not. The custom officials’ decision, however, is not completely surprising, considering the EU’s non-recognition of Ma’ale Adumim and other Israeli settlements in occupied territory.
Der Spiegel goes on to report that the case may ultimately be decided by the European Court of Justice (ECJ). The Hamburg court has asked the ECJ to make a preliminary ruling on the case that would bind all EU member states, and would create an official EU stance on settlement duties. The outcome, due in the next months, may be the first step towards greater anti-settlement economic policy in Europe. A resulting duty on settlement-produced goods, according to Der Spiegel, would affect an estimated one-third of Israeli goods exported to the the EU, which is Israel’s second-largest market.
Der Spiegel goes on to report that the case may ultimately be decided by the European Court of Justice (ECJ). The Hamburg court has asked the ECJ to make a preliminary ruling on the case that would bind all EU member states, and would create an official EU stance on settlement duties. The outcome, due in the next months, may be the first step towards greater anti-settlement economic policy in Europe. A resulting duty on settlement-produced goods, according to Der Spiegel, would affect an estimated one-third of Israeli goods exported to the the EU, which is Israel’s second-largest market.
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