SIIA Urges Democratic Senators To Support TPA Again

The Trans-Pacific Partnership and other trade agreements “are essential for establishing modern rules for digital trade -- trade that will be an increasingly important driver of high wage American jobs and economic growth, and they cannot proceed" without trade promotion authority. So said the Software & Information Industry Association in letters Monday to the 14 Democratic senators who voted for TPA in May, urging them to do so again. TPA “formalizes the U.S. negotiating position that our trading partners must not impede digital trade in goods and services,” SIIA said. The software industry, which SIIA said contributes $425 billion to the U.S. economy and directly employs 2.5 million workers, “relies heavily on the free flow of data across international borders,” it said. “We urge you to maintain your support for the President’s ability to finalize negotiations and buttress American leadership in trade.” The House passed a stand-alone trade TPA bill Thursday, sending it back to the Senate, where final approval would deliver TPA to President Barack Obama for his signature (see 1506180059).