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I’m on the ground in Geneva, Switzerland, as negotiators discuss the time periods for eliminating tariffs on technology products listed under the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Information Technology Agreement (ITA). Many critics say the WTO cannot keep up with evolving business and consumer dynamics around the world. The WTO’s Doha Development Agenda (DDA) negotiations are increasingly irrelevant [...]
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On October 8, 2014, information communications technology (ICT) industry representatives and governments from Japan, the United States, and Europe held a meeting to discuss problematic policies known as “Forced Localization Measures.” Dozens of representatives from some of the world’s leading technology companies gathered in Tokyo to discuss the challenge of forced localization measures, which harm [...]
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DATELINE BRASILIA -- Brazil’s Congress has delayed a vote yet again this week on a bill that could have some decidedly negative ramifications for the Internet and the global digital economy. In the months following the NSA surveillance revelations, Brazil’s Marco Civil da Internet, originally a type of constitution for Internet users, has been peppered with provisions that could cripple the growth [...]
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As the Brazilian lower house of Congress, Camara de Deputados, prepares to vote on the Internet Framework bill, ITI joined a coalition of nearly 50 global business groups urging in a letter to congressional leaders to reconsider proposed in-country data storage requirements. The proposals come from the Rousseff Administration and aim to secure Brazilian citizens’ data in response to NSA surveillance [...]
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Yet another partisan budget showdown and potential government shutdown eclipsed a recent significant event in Washington that has the potential to drive innovation, economic growth, and job creation in the United States -- namely, last week’s visit of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh provided an opportunity to return our historic bilateral relationship to a firmer footing with significant positive [...]
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This week, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh travels to Washington for meetings with President Obama and top Administration officials. Their primary topic: economic growth. But several key policies being pursued by the Indian government would work to restrict the import of innovative products and services into India, setting back that nation’s economy with ripple effects globally. We’ve written [...]
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The news of the last several weeks has been dominated by storylines on government surveillance programs and the level of access that security agencies have into people’s daily lives. While these reports have continued to develop, there has been little attention focused on solutions. What limits should there be on government programs? What are the ramifications of these programs on the global flow of [...]
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The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) presents significant opportunities for new job creation and economic growth for both the United States and the European Union – if negotiators can forge an agreement that reflects the dynamic, innovative marketplace in both regions. That’s the message ITI’s Dean Garfield will offer at a Wednesday House hearing on TTIP. Dean’s testimony is going [...]
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There’s good news from New Delhi today as the Government of India (GOI) has opted to take a closer look at its highly controversial policy designed to compel foreign companies to manufacture electronic products in India if they want to sell there. After a meeting of India’s key economic and security policy advisors, the Prime Minister’s Office announced its decision today to revisit and review the [...]
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Trade ministers from APEC’s 21 economies descended on the sprawling city of Surabaya in East Java this weekend in their annual discussions to promote trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region. Though progress was achieved on a number of fronts, the tech community especially welcomed the clarion call issued by the ministers to conclude negotiations to expand the Information Technology Agreement [...]