Customs officers of the Russian Federation: Apple Watch is an ordinary wrist watch with a customs rate of 10%

Photo: AFP 2016 / Peter Parks

Today, the Moscow Arbitration Court rejected a statement by Apple’s Russian division regarding the recognition of three decisions of the Central Customs Board of the Federal Customs Service of Russia to change the Apple Watch’s smart watch’s customs classification as illegal. The corporation tried to challenge the classification of its gadget as a wristwatch, write RIA Novosti. The fact is that when importing wristwatches, the customs rate reaches 10%.

The corporation believes that Apple Watch is a device for data transmission. Such gadgets are not subject to import duties. But representatives of the FCS do not agree with this statement, saying that one of the main components of the Apple Watch is precisely the time reference component, which does not necessarily have to be made in the form of a clock mechanism.

Apple disputes the opinion of the FCS, saying that it is impossible to single out the main component of the watch, and the gadget is a device for transmitting data.
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The reason why the court rejected the application of Apple, will be known after the publication of the text of the judicial act. This decision can be challenged, with the condition of filing an appeal.

In addition to this application, the corporation filed two more, one - to the arbitration of Moscow and the second - to the arbitration court of the Moscow region. In these statements, Apple also disputes the decisions of the TCU TCF and Sheremetyevo Customs on the preliminary classification of the imported Apple Watch.

The classification of devices was changed by the FCS at the end of 2015.