US Should Remove Tech-Related Trade Barriers, ITI Tells Trade Representative

Technology-related trade barriers that prevent U.S. companies from selling products and services abroad should be a government focus, the Information Technology Industry Council responded (release here) to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative request for comments about trade agreement violations and abuses. Comments were sought after an April executive order. Data localization, cloud computing restrictions, regulations on online service providers and customs, copyright issues and surrender of source code, encryption keys and IP were among barriers U.S. companies face overseas, said ITI. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce called the 1996 Information Technology Agreement "an outstanding example of a trade agreement that lowers tariffs, benefits U.S. exporters and American workers, and promotes innovation" in the U.S. It said the ITA expansion agreed to by 53 World Trade Organization members in December 2015 "will multiply [ITA] benefits" when implemented by 2019, but more "vigorous enforcement" of all agreements is needed, "a goal that sometimes receives only lackluster support in practice."