The 25 per cent tariff on US-made amusement games coming into Europe, is having a market effect on sales, report machine distributors.
The tax is the outcome of a spat between the EU and US governments, each accusing the other of giving their respective aircraft manufacturing companies preferential treatment. The Eurobus-Boeing conflict has been going on for some years but only this year has it become an issue for the arcade games business.
Coin-operated equipment is one of many sectors upon which a tax has been placed in a tit-for-tat battle between the governments.
Although it is an EU issue, the UK is also implicated because Airbus wings are made in Britain.
One importer told InterGame this week: “We are working with the authorities to see if we can somehow mitigate the impact of this on our imports.”
Many brands important to the European amusement industry, including Bay Tek, Raw Thrills, ICE and several other noted makers are impacted.
