Press Releases

Arlington, Va. (Nov. 11, 2014) – The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leading association representing the manufacturers and suppliers of high-tech communications networks, today commended the White House and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative for their leadership in breaking the impasse to resume the negotiations to expand the World Trade Organization (WTO) Information Technology Agreement (ITA).

Originally concluded in 1996, the ITA eliminated tariffs on a wide range of information and communication technology (ICT) products, resulting in lower costs and greater diffusion of these products that are critical to enhance productivity, innovation, and economic growth here in the United States and globally.

A commercially significant expansion of the products covered under the ITA will support U.S. jobs and expand exports. Moreover, a successful conclusion to the negotiations to expand the ITA will reinforce the importance of the WTO and the multilateral trading system that has been an important contributor to global economic growth through trade and investment liberalization.

The breakthrough to resume the negotiations to expand the Information Technology Agreement would not have been possible without the tremendous amount of hard work by the White House and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative over the past year. It has been 17 years since the original ITA was concluded, and TIA is very pleased to see that the ITA expansion negotiations back on track.

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