Only a few days ago we discussed the continuous downward trend of LCD prices and the strong appreciation these products have from more and more consumers. The LCD monitor is no longer considered a high-end product, it is replacing the CRT model at a very rapid pace and the trend continues to grow quarter to quarter. Still, in spite of the success these products had during the past few years, Europeans will not be very happy to hear that they will have to pay an extra tax for LCD monitors made outside of the European borders.

The news was announced also by the French site http://www.hardware.fr/news/lire/24-01-2006/, so apparently the rumors are confirmed on this matter. The tax is to be applied starting January 18 this year, but only to those monitors manufactured outside the European Union.

Another aspect of this matter is that 19 inch 4:3 monitors and 17 inch and below ones will be excluded from this tax. However, the 19 inch and the 20 inch wide monitors, plus all DVI compatible and manufactured abroad the European Union will have the 14% tax applied.

Considering that out of all LCD producers, LG is the only one to have a manufacturing site inside the EU, in the Wales to be more precise, LG monitors could be the only ones to make it "clean" to the market, wearing the price tag producers intended.