WASHINGTON, D.C. John Neuffer, Vice President for Global Policy at the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), today issued the following statement on the Senate Finance Committee’s passage of Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with Russia:

 

“The tech industry applauds the Senate Finance Committee for passing permanent normal trade relations with Russia. The unanimous vote in committee today demonstrates overwhelming support for the legislation.  We urge the full Senate to act on this job-creating, trade-liberalizing legislation soon.

 

Further opening the Russian market, currently ninth largest in the world, to American goods and services would expand significantly the opportunities for the export of U.S. products and increased American jobs.

 

“Russia’s commitment to join the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) as part of its WTO accession, as well as to provide stronger intellectual property protections and greater market access, is critical to the rapidly growing tech sector. We look forward to Russia fulfilling its commitment to join the ITA, which we consider to be the most commercially successful trade agreement in the WTO.

 

“We appreciate the hard work of Chairman Baucus, Ranking Member Hatch, Senator Thune, Senator Kerry, and Senator McCain.  We hope the unanimous vote in committee today sends a strong signal to Senate and House leaders that this important, job-creating legislation should be a top Congressional priority.”