Press Releases

Arlington, Va. (Apr. 22, 2015) – The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leading association representing the manufacturers and suppliers of high-tech communications networks, sent letters to the Senate Committee on Finance and the House Committee on Ways and Means calling for rapid passage of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015. In letters to Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) along with Reps. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Sander Levin (D-MI), TIA said that Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation would increase the export of high demand telecommunications equipment and related services.

In the letter, TIA CEO Scott Belcher stated that trade agreements “are critical to the U.S. ICT industry because they promote trade-liberalizing, market-based, and technology-neutral approaches in countries overseas, in turn facilitating high-tech exports by U.S. ICT companies and job growth at home...According to TIA's 2014-2017 ICT Market Review and Forecast, although countries having trade agreements with the United States currently represent only 13 percent of the overseas economy, they account for 38.6 percent of U.S. exports in telecommunications equipment in 2013.”

Belcher continued, “TIA is particularly pleased that this year’s TPA legislation has been updated for the 21st century by including trade negotiating objectives related to digital trade and cross-border data flows, as well as the proliferation of localization barriers to trade.”

The full text of the letters follows.

Dear Chairman Hatch and Ranking Member Wyden:

The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leading trade association for global manufacturers, vendors, and suppliers of information and communications technology (ICT), strongly supports the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015. Enactment of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation is vital to the potential conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and other trade agreements. Such agreements are critical to the U.S. ICT industry because they promote trade-liberalizing, market-based, and technology-neutral approaches in countries overseas, in turn facilitating high-tech exports by U.S. ICT companies and job growth at home.

Global investment is increasing rapidly in both wireless and fixed broadband networks as smartphone penetration and fiber deployments expand worldwide. Driven by this enormous need, the global telecommunications market for equipment and related services was valued at $5.4 trillion in 2014, with about 75 percent of the total marketplace located outside of the United States. Moreover, experience shows that the effects of prior trade agreements on ICT equipment exports are both demonstrable and dramatic. According to TIA's 2014-2017 ICT Market Review and Forecast, although countries having trade agreements with the United States currently represent only 13 percent of the overseas economy, they account for 38.6 percent of U.S. exports in telecommunications equipment in 2013.

TIA is particularly pleased that this year’s TPA legislation has been updated for the 21st century by including trade negotiating objectives related to digital trade and cross-border data flows, as well as the proliferation of localization barriers to trade. Finally, this landmark legislation will strengthen the partnership between Congress and the Administration through enhanced congressional oversight, transparency, and consultations. This will ultimately result in stronger trade agreements that truly benefit the U.S. economy and job creation.

TIA strongly urges the rapid enactment of this legislation. For more information, please contact David Gray at dgray@tiaonline.org or at 703-907-7710.

Very best regards,

Scott Belcher
Chief Executive Officer

Dear Chairman Ryan and Ranking Member Levin:

The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leading trade association for global manufacturers, vendors, and suppliers of information and communications technology (ICT), strongly supports the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015. Enactment of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation is vital to the potential conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and other trade agreements. Such agreements are critical to the U.S. ICT industry because they promote trade-liberalizing, market-based, and technology-neutral approaches in countries overseas, in turn facilitating high-tech exports by U.S. ICT companies and job growth at home.

Global investment is increasing rapidly in both wireless and fixed broadband networks as smartphone penetration and fiber deployments expand worldwide. Driven by this enormous need, the global telecommunications market for equipment and related services was valued at $5.4 trillion in 2014, with about 75 percent of the total marketplace located outside of the United States. Moreover, experience shows that the effects of prior trade agreements on ICT equipment exports are both demonstrable and dramatic. According to TIA's 2014-2017 ICT Market Review and Forecast, although countries having trade agreements with the United States currently represent only 13 percent of the overseas economy, they account for 38.6 percent of U.S. exports in telecommunications equipment in 2013.

TIA is particularly pleased that this year’s TPA legislation has been updated for the 21st century by including trade negotiating objectives related to digital trade and cross-border data flows, as well as the proliferation of localization barriers to trade. Finally, this landmark legislation will strengthen the partnership between Congress and the Administration through enhanced congressional oversight, transparency, and consultations. This will ultimately result in stronger trade agreements that truly benefit the U.S. economy and job creation.

TIA strongly urges the rapid enactment of this legislation. For more information, please contact David Gray at dgray@tiaonline.org or at 703-907-7710.

Very best regards,

Scott Belcher
Chief Executive Officer