EUROPE
<i> Times Staff and Wire Reports</i>
France Raises Value-Added Tax: The two-percentage-point increase brings that country’s value-added tax to 20.6%, making it one of the European Union’s highest. The move is part of the new government’s efforts to cut public debt and deficits. Only food and cultural goods--from circus tickets to books--will continue to be taxed at the lower 5.6% rate.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
