[Centurion2000]

The real loser in this is the consumer in European countries. They will now find themselves suddenly paying up to 25% more for services just like that. US suppliers will hand them an invoice with a nice little US price and a nice EU VAT line item.

Actually you'll see scads of Euro-dudes cruising ebay looking for whatever they need.

[Arkinsaw]

Actually you'll see scads of Euro-dudes cruising ebay looking for whatever they need.

This will hurt the little guy as internet services expand. It is essentially a tax on information. It will affect future purchases of music, movies, software, and subscription services. My guess is that it will do nothing to help European service businesses compete since it will not lower their price but rather increase prices all around.

The real hurt however will be European businesses who are purchasing services from US companies that provide marketing services, data processing, customer relationship management, and all sorts of other services that help businesses compete and keep costs down. I think it will actually make European corporations less competitive since they will be paying up to 25% more for these important business services than their competitors in the United States. They will either have to pay the increased costs to get these effeciency generating services (no matter where they get them) or they will have to do without. Neither option helps their competitive edge in the world market.

Like I said, pay up Europe.....Brussels needs yo' money.