WASHINGTON — Today, global tech trade association ITI and the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) urged governments participating in ongoing World Trade Organization (WTO) Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) Negotiations on E-Commerce to prioritize progress on advancing services market access commitments across key sectors.
In a new paper, “The Case for Ambitious Services Market Access Commitments as Part of the WTO Joint Statement Initiative on E-Commerce,” NFTC and ITI wrote, “The evolving nature of digital services, along with the digital and physical infrastructures enabling the provision of such services, suggests that even the most forward-looking rules-based commitments … must be accompanied by robust market access commitments that provide necessary certainty to businesses and individuals alike.”
“Beyond creating a necessary underpinning for modern rules-based digital trade, the establishment of binding market access commitments in the context of JSI negotiations that expand upon those in the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) would directly contribute to the broader and more equitable distribution of benefits stemming from policies that promote open digital trade,” the groups observe.
In the paper, ITI and NFTC point to benefits of expanded services market access commitments, including:
In addition, as a component of broadening the application of good regulatory practices to key services sectors, the associations encourage negotiators to develop and expand provisions that extend technical barriers to trade (TBT)-style commitments to digital services, including as regards regulatory reliance on international standards and the promotion of interoperable frameworks.
Read the full paper here.
About ITI: The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) is the premier global advocate for technology, representing the world’s most innovative companies. Founded in 1916, ITI is an international trade association with a team of professionals on four continents. We promote public policies and industry standards that advance competition and innovation worldwide. Our diverse membership and expert staff provide policymakers the broadest perspective and thought leadership from technology, hardware, software, services, and related industries.
About NFTC: NFTC is dedicated to making America more successful in the global economy by ensuring the adoption of competitive tax and trade policies, strengthening the global rules-based trading system and opening foreign markets to U.S. products and services. The Council’s membership spans the breadth of the national economy. It includes sectors such as energy products, aerospace, capital goods, transportation, consumer goods, technology, healthcare products, services, e-commerce and retail. Our companies account for more than $3 trillion in total sales worldwide, employ over five million Americans and produce a huge share of our nation’s total exports. We and our members have significant interests in ensuring a healthy U.S. economy and promoting America’s global leadership. Learn more at www.nftc.org.
