WASHINGTON – The CEOs of nine tech industry associations representing the software, hardware, services, Internet, and application companies, have expressed their strong support for the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA) in a letter to House Speaker Boehner (R-Ohio) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). ITI President and CEO Dean Garfield signed the letter, sent to House leadership, urging “the House to swiftly pass TPA to support the almost 40 million American jobs supported by trade and ensure that our trade policy is ready for the 21st century.”

The letter, text of which is included below, can be found by clicking here:

June 10, 2015

The Honorable John Boehner
Speaker of the House 
US House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Democratic Leader
US House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

RE: The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015

Dear Speaker Boehner and Leader Pelosi:

We write on behalf of the U.S. technology sector, representing software, hardware,
services, Internet, and application companies of all sizes, to express our strong support
for the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA).

Technology hardware and software are a significant percentage of U.S. exports around
the world. As importantly, the proliferation of the Internet, the transfer of digital data,
and the digital delivery of goods and services have created tremendous opportunities
for innovative companies, large and small, transforming the U.S. high tech sector. As
the sector has evolved significantly since the last time trade promotion authority passed
Congress in 2002, so have the challenges impacting the ability of our member
companies to access global markets.

Unfortunately, the rules of the road for how to treat trade enabled by the Internet and
online platforms are not clear. Many countries are erecting new barriers to U.S.
companies exporting digital products and services and continue creating impediments
for technology hardware and semiconductor companies to gain access to their markets.

This TPA bill reinforces longstanding U.S. trade positions with respect to technology
trade – for instance, reinforcing commitments from our trading partners to join the World
Trade Organization Information Technology Agreement. It creates strong new
provisions against forced localization measures, and protects cross-border data flows,
ensuring the burgeoning demand for our companies’ digital goods and services is not
thwarted by foreign governments before it is fully developed. TPA will create a gold
standard framework for global trade that is reflective of today’s digital economy and the
growing importance of the technology and Internet sectors.

We urge the House to swiftly pass TPA to support the almost 40 million American jobs
supported by trade and ensure that our trade policy is ready for the 21st century.

Dean C. Garfield
President and CEO
Information Technology Industry Council

Linda Moore
TechNet
President and CEO

John F. Neuffer
President and CEO
Semiconductor Industry Association

Gary Shapiro
President & CEO
Consumer Electronics Association

Carl Guardino
President and CEO
Silicon Valley Leadership Group

Ken Wasch
President and CEO
Software and Information Industry Association

Scott Belcher
Chief Executive Officer
Telecommunications Industry Association

Bruce Mehlman
Executive Director
Technology CEO Council

Victoria A. Espinel
President & CEO
BSA | The Software Alliance

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