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Washington's move marks an escalation in an increasingly rancorous dispute over the WTO's Information Technology Agreement which eliminated duties on a range of high-tech goods from July 1997 to encourage trade.

However, since 2005 the EU has re-imposed duties on new monitors, all-in-one printers and TV set-top boxes that can access the internet, arguing they are now consumer products rather than pure high-tech goods.

The EU has rejected US assertions that this violates the

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terms of the accord, suggesting it would fight the case stoutly.

"We regret that formal consultations have not been successful in resolving our concerns over the duties that the EU is imposing on several high-tech products," says US Trade Representative Susan Schwab.

"We believe that these duties are inconsistent with the EU's commitments on these products, and that they discourage technological innovation in the IT sector."

In Brussels, a spokesman for Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson argues the US is seeking to change the ITA through litigation while refusing EU suggestions that it agree to review the pact's coverage with all its signatories.

Changing the accord "is not something we can negotiate bilaterally with the US," he says.

Japan and Taiwan joined the US request for a panel. The request will be put to the next meeting of the WTO's dispute settlement body on 29 August.

Washington estimates that global exports of the products under dispute, which are made by companies such as HP, Canon and Ricoh, total more than $70 billion.