Taipei  - Taiwan will join the United States and Japan and take legal action in the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the EU's unfair trade policy, the Economics Ministry said Tuesday.

Since 2006, the EU has classified information technology (IT) products such as set-up boxes with internet connections, LCD monitors and multi-function printers as consumers goods, charging 6 to 14 per cent when they should be duty-free under the Information Technology Agreement (ITA).

The US and Japan requested consultation with EU under WTO's framework on May 28, the ministry said in a statement.

The EU's policy has hurt Taiwanese products which are manufactured and distributed all over the world, particularly LCD monitors.

To protect the interests of its manufacturers' interests, Taiwan has decided to join the US and Hapan and be plaintiffs in the lawsuit against EU and will soon - according to WTO's dispute settlement mechanism - request consultations with EU.

"If the consultations bear no fruit, we do not rule out asking the WTO to set up a dispute settlement panel to settle the dispute," the statement said. (dpa)