(GENEVA) - The WTO said Friday that the European Union had blocked a joint request by the United States, Japan and Taiwan for the Geneva-based body to settle a dispute over duties on high-technology imports.

Earlier this month, US Trade Representative Susan Schwab said the three parties were bringing their case to the World Trade Organisation.

The United States and the two Asian countries claim that EU is violating trade rules by imposing duties on imports of certain products such as "cable boxes that can access the Internet, flat-panel computer monitors, and certain computer printers that can also scan, fax and/or copy."

Brussels blocked the request for the WTO's dispute settlements body (DSB) to hear the case, as is its right under WTO rules. Should the parties renew their request, it will be automatically adopted at the DSB's next meeting.

A WTO Information Technology Agreement (ITA) signed in 1996 prohibits duties on certain high-technology products.

Schwab said earlier this month that "we believe that these duties are inconsistent with the EU's commitments on these products and that they discourage technological innovation in the IT sector."

Text and Picture Copyright 2008 AFP. All other Copyright 2008 EUbusiness Ltd. All rights reserved. This material is intended solely for personal use. Any other reproduction, publication or redistribution of this material without the written agreement of the copyright owner is strictly forbidden and any breach of copyright will be considered actionable.