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TIA Urges Expansion of WTO Information Technology Agreement By End of Year

ARLINGTON, VA (November 14, 2013) – The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leading association representing the manufacturers and suppliers of high-tech communications networks, today urged the expansion of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Information Technology Agreement (ITA).  TIA is part of a broad coalition of high-tech trade associations and companies currently in Geneva, Switzerland for the final round of negotiations to expand and update product coverage of the ITA by the end of this year.

The ITA was established in 1996 and eliminates tariffs on a wide range of ICT products, thereby lowering the cost and increasing the dissemination of these critical technologies around the world.  The ITA remains one of the most commercially significant trade agreements for the global ICT sector, and TIA supports the current negotiations that will add to the success of the existing ITA by taking into account the development of new ICT products through technological advancements that have been made since the original ITA was concluded 17 years ago.

Grant Seiffert, President of TIA, stated, “The ITA and these current negotiations to expand it are critically important for the global telecommunications and IT industry.  A successful outcome for the high-tech industry will need to result in a commercially significant expansion to the product coverage under the ITA.  We are urging all WTO members involved in these negotiations to be as ambitious as possible to reach this goal during the final round of negotiations.”

About TIA

The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) represents manufacturers and suppliers of global communications networks through standards development, policy and advocacy, business opportunities, market intelligence, and events and networking. TIA enhances the business environment for broadband, mobile wireless, information technology, networks, cable, satellite and unified communications. Members' products and services empower communications in every industry and market, including healthcare, education, security, public safety, transportation, government, the military, the environment, and entertainment. Visit tiaonline.org for more details.

TIA is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and is a proud sponsor of ANSI’s Standards Boost Business campaign. Visit www.standardsboostbusiness.org for details.

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