Pursue ‘Plurilateral’ Indo-Pacific Digital Trade Pact, USTR Urged

Developing “inclusive” digital trade rules with Indo-Pacific “trusted partners” should be a “critical element” of a broader U.S. trade agenda “to counter protectionist digital economy trends,” safeguard U.S. workers’ interests and bolster U.S. opportunities, CTA, the Information Technology Industry Council, National Retailer Federation and 15 other groups wrote U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai Friday. USTR should take the lead in developing a new “plurilateral” digital trade agreement or pursue the expansion of existing pacts, said the groups, also including BSA|The Software Alliance, the Computer & Communications Industry Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. They urged USTR to “prioritize engagement with Indo-Pacific economies” to advance new digital trade rules and “re-assert U.S. leadership on trade policy in this strategically important region.” USTR didn’t comment Monday.