Anonymous "About the map & game on the dining room table; believe me there's no dust gathering. I've got a few years of not "pushing counters" to make up for and I fully intend to. Kate (my wife) is an Army Brat, and we've known each other since we were kids so she's used to me by now. She and my two daughters (senior & sophmore) have been briefed in detail about you and your games, what you've done for wargaming, your status as an authority on the subject, etc." Udo Grebe: Punitive Customs UGG/Udo Grebe Games is one of OSG's distributors in Europe. The European Union has installed a new punishment customs vs. goods from the USA taking effect since March 1 2004. UGG has evidence of the customs since March 16. Rate: 5% increasing by 1% every month till they can make an agreement with the USA or the economy crashes. That means in April the customs will be 6%, 7% in May and so on up to a maximum of 17%. The European Union wishes to force the USA to accept the judgement of the World Trade Organization. According to that judgement the USA must remove subsidies for exports of US companies. These companies are for example Microsoft and Boeing. However, we could experience how the US Government reacted on means of political suppression in the past. In alternative to an agreement are countermeasures of the USA. We read some articles that the US government is willing to give in. Furthermore is stated that there would be no real harm for the European industry. But frankly said UGG has problems to trust announcements of EU or US politicians. In our actual mass import UGG already paid that punishment customs. What does this mean for you customers? When buying a game directly from the USA you have to pay that customs fully in addition the games price taking effect immediately. And yes the shipping costs are added to the games total. From that combined total the customs is calculated. The same calculation is made for the sales tax. When ordering from UGG you do not pay that punishment customs till April 30. So order now! With a lot of luck and competent politicians we do not have these customs anymore soon. But are the EU or US politicians competent? From May 1 2004 on UGG must pass part of the customs to you customers but only 50%. The rates are May 2004 3, 5%, thereafter increasing by 0.5% every month. For example in August the customs fee would be 5% from UGG and 10% if ordering from the USA. Prepubs and P 500 orders. UGG must add the customs due at the time of shipping here from UGG: Affected are the following companies: Avalanche Press, Clash of Arms, Critical Hit, Decision Games, Eagle Games, Excalibre Games, GMT Games, HPS Simulations, Moments in History, Multiman Publishing, New England Simulations, Operational Studies Group, The Gamers, Inc. If Australian Design Group is affected is unclear. The games originate from Australia, but are imported via the USA. L2 Design is also unclear. They originate from Canada but charge invoices in US $. UGG’s Online shop cannot calculate the new customs. UGG adds that manually to the invoice amount. What does this mean for UGG? A longer existence of these customs can kill UGG. We here at UGG can understand that you are unwilling to pay such customs. It's hard to earn a living today. That could make some of you delay your orders. UGG just can say please don't. UGG is not responsible for the decisions of our politicians. As seen from above UGG does its best to harm the customers only minimally. In morning I woke up in cold sweat. It thought it was because of a nightmare. After getting busy I realized that my nightmare has already become reality. Back to OSG News March 2004 Table of Contents Back to OSG News List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 2004 by Operational Studies Group This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com