News - Raspberry Pi now manufactured in the UK, thanks to Sony

Quote:

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A deal has been struck for manufacture to take place at a Sony design facility in Wales.

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Read more.

Not even a tax break, just a fair approach to manufacturing in this country versus importing pre-made items:-

http://www.raspberrypi.org/archives/509

I wonder how they're doing on that now? I know a petition was set up to re-think the completely stupid tax rules.

For those who haven't read it, in short: To import components so the boards can be MFR'd in UK imposes tax, but to import assembled boards doesn't. Not sure how that encourages UK manufacturing exactly...

I wonder where this tax rule came from originally. I bet it was supposed to encourage the manufacture of parts in the UK and has either been completely misguided, or is now completely out of date (or a combination of the two). Depends when this rule was brought in and what it says specifically (is it about electronics or just about "components" as in it could have been for the car industry and discouraging the import of little bits of cars etc.).

My understanding is that as with all customs unions the tariff on goods from outside the union must be the same for every member country of the EU. Ie even if we weren't in the EU, if we were in the customs union (ie EFTA or relationship that Switzerland has), we still would be subject to the common external tariff. Its the price you pay for having absolutely zero trade restrictions inside the customs union.

Thus I believe the UK would not be able to change this rule unilaterally (although I agree the rule does sound completely bonkers as it seems to actively encourage complete assembly outside the EU rather than import components and assemble)

Here's a petition if you guys want to add your names:

https://submissions.epetitions.direc...etitions/27158