WASHINGTON – Today the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), the global voice for the tech sector, again emphasized to Senators the importance of trade promotion authority (TPA) legislation for the future growth of U.S. technology companies. In a letter to Senators, ITI cited the legislation will be key to address digital trade issues, lower trade barriers, and help technology companies gain access to foreign markets to sell their goods and services.

The following is text of the letter sent to Senators announcing the tech organization’s intention to key vote the legislation:

June 23, 2015

Senator Mitch McConnell
Majority Leader
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Senator Harry Reid
Democratic Leader
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Re: H.R. 2146, the Defending Public Safety Employees’ Retirement Act

Dear Majority Leader McConnell and Democratic Leader Reid:

On behalf of the 61 member companies of the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), I write to express our strong support for the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015, and for trade promotion authority legislation (TPA). Amendment #1 to H.R. 2146 in the House of Representatives added the Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 to the measure. Consequently, given the importance of fair access to foreign markets for the high-tech industry, we intend to score the vote in favor of final passage in H.R. 2146 in our 114th Congressional Voting Guide.

The U.S. technology sector has seen unprecedented growth and transformation over the past decade. Much of this growth is the direct result of reaching consumers outside America’s borders, including through new digital and Internet platforms. U.S. companies are increasingly facing obstacles, however, by countries imposing barriers meant to impede access to U.S. technology products and services, including the ability to transfer data across borders. This TPA bill provides new direction to the Office of the United States Trade Representative that reflects the U.S. tech sector’s priorities, the changes that have happened in the industry since the last TPA was passed in 2002, and new areas for growth in the U.S. tech sector with regard to digital trade issues.

It is vital to ITI, the companies we represent, and the tech sector at large that the United States continue working to open markets and create a balanced trading environment for U.S. companies overseas. Passage of H.R. 2146 is a critical first step to achieving that, and for these reasons we intend to score a vote on final passage, which will include TPA, in our 114th Congressional Voting Guide.

Sincerely,

Dean Garfield
President and CEO

cc: Members of the United States Senate

# # #

Related [Trade & Investment]