Global Trade
Japan moves closer to trade pact despite concerns. Japan has made clear to the United States that it is seriously considering talks on a sweeping Pacific trade pact, but Tokyo's entry already faces fierce opposition in both countries ... John Neuffer, a former US trade official who is senior vice president for global policy at the Information Technology Industry Council, which advocates on behalf of the tech sector, thinks that “this summit creates a pathway forward for Abe to finally get Japan into the TPP … Both sides had to give a little if there was any hope of making it happen." (AFP)
De Gucht Says U.S.-EU Cooperation Likely To Be More Effective On New Regulations. European Union Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht last week made clear that regulatory cooperation arrangements in a potential trade agreement between the EU and the United States are more likely to be successful for new regulations than for existing ones. (Inside US Trade)
How to improve U.S.-China relations. While the relationship is strong, it can benefit from some changes. (Politico op-ed/Reps. Larsen and Boustany)
ITA Talks Aim to Cull List of Products. Diplomats working to expand the WTO Information Technology Agreement (ITA) want to cut the list of products that will become the subject of negotiations. (Washington Tariff & Trade Letter)
Cybersecurity & Privacy
Web anonymity battle starts anew. Google’s chief Internet evangelist is expected to make the case Wednesday for keeping people’s identity anonymous. (The Hill)
Google to Apple Gird for FTC-Led Mobile-Privacy Crackdown. As the government clamps down on alleged privacy violations by mobile applications, Google Inc., Apple Inc. and legions of software developers are girding for fines and rules that analysts say threaten to stifle growth. (Bloomberg)
EU judges to hear arguments in Google test privacy case. Google will do battle with Spain's data protection authority in Europe's highest court on Tuesday in a landmark case with global implications which poses one of the thorniest questions of the Internet age: When is information really private? (Reuters)
Obama's cyber chief to discuss executive order. The RSA cybersecurity conference in San Francisco starts Tuesday with a panel that will examine recent developments in the Obama administration's cybersecurity policy. White House Cybersecurity Coordinator Michael Daniel, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Eric Rosenbach and former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff will participate in the afternoon panel. (The Hill)
China wants hacking allegations to stop. Following another allegation it directed a cyberattack on Germany, China voices concerns accusations against the country will increase the risk of conflict and deter nations from working together to safeguard the Internet. (ZDNet)
Mum's the word for U.S. businesses hacked by China. Experts say China's hacking is motivated by the need to innovate, but many of the U.S. firms that are victims need to reconsider their response to the attacks. (Marketplace)
Digital rights advocates wary of new 'six strikes' initiative for online piracy. ISPs will now warn customers when illegal filesharing is detected, but critics argue system offers few protections. (Guardian)
Google Play raises privacy concerns. Campaigner says tech giant's policies don't make it clear that Google Play users who buy apps give over information to app developers. (Guardian)
IP Enforcement
New System Warns Illegal Downloaders. Internet service providers have launched a more coordinated effort to deal with subscribers who illegally download movies, TV shows and music. After several warnings, subscribers could see service speeds slowed. (WSJ)
Workforce
Sens. McCain and Graham to meet with Obama for talks on immigration. The two senators are members of a bipartisan group trying to reach a deal on immigration reform. (The Hill)
The GOP's Immigration Dilemma. The growing size of the Hispanic vote has created a dilemma for the Republican Party as it shapes its stance on immigration. (WSJ)
Tax
Democrats target offshore tax break. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) will push for a vote in the coming days on legislation that would, among other things, prevent companies from deducting moving costs from their tax bill if they shift their business operations abroad. (Politico Pro)
Mobility
Telecom chiefs attack US internet groups. European executives speak out at MWC over monopolistic practices. (FT)
How the wireless industry will connect the next billion people. The CEOs of Nokia, Qtel, Bharti Airtel, and Mozilla discuss the challenges of getting Internet access to the rest of the world. (CNET)
Card Networks Unveil Mobile Platforms. Visa and MasterCard unveiled industry partnerships and technology systems intended to make it easier for consumers to make purchases online, on mobile devices and in physical stores without having to pull out a physical credit or debit card. (WSJ)
Tech Business
Why Mobile Giants Can't Ignore Emerging Markets. Mobile growth opportunities lie in emerging markets but heavyweights like Apple and Google are having to rethink their approach. (CNBC)
Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer's ban on telecommuting sparks a firestorm. Marissa Mayer's decision to order telecommuting Yahoo employees back to the office has sparked a passionate debate over the growing practice of working from home. (San Jose Mercury News)
Nokia Siemens Networks aims for No.2 slot in U.S. market. Nokia-Siemens Networks is mounting an expansion drive in North America where the world's third-largest telecom equipment maker believes a spate of deal-making among mobile carriers will play out in its favor. (Reuters)
Salesforce 'doubles down' on mobile, launches Service Cloud Mobile. For Salesforce, Service Cloud Mobile includes co-browsing, mobile communities, mobile chat, touch interfaces and cloud customer service. (ZDNet)
PrivCo report: Silicon Valley remains far ahead of other tech centers. There are many that would delight in news of Silicon Valley's decline but their Schadenfreude festivities will have to be postponed yet again. (ZDNet)