European Commission wins dispute with Czech Republic over lighter import tax fine

The European Commission has successfully overturned a previous ruling that had partially favored the Czech Republic in a dispute over a 40 million CZK fine for illegally imported lighters. In 2022, the EU court reduced the fine by 18 million CZK, but the Commission appealed the decision. The latest ruling confirms that the Czech Republic will not receive any reimbursement. The case, originating from 2007, involved unclaimed antidumping duties on lighters misrepresented as being from Laos, but actually made in China.