WASHINGTON – Ahead of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Summit on November 18, global tech trade association ITI called on leaders to advance a common trade and economic agenda in the service of American workers and businesses, including through affirming commitments of the landmark U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

In a letter to U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and National Economic Council Director Brian Deese, ITI’s President and CEO Jason Oxman wrote: “Our industry welcomes the upcoming Summit between President Biden, Prime Minister Trudeau, and President López Obrador as an opportunity to further integrate the digitalized North American economy. As a cornerstone of that economic relationship, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) includes some of the most forward-thinking and comprehensive digital trade, trade facilitation, and other commitments of any modern trade agreement. It provides a template for both innovation- and worker-friendly policies for facilitating increased economic growth and cooperation, and tackling common concerns.”

In the letter, ITI encouraged the leaders to affirm the following commitments to advance an open, fair, resilient, and competitive North American market:

  • Fully implement and adhere to USMCA, including provisions governing labor rights, digital trade, technical barriers to trade, and customs and trade facilitation;

  • Support open digital markets and oppose digital authoritarianism and protectionism;

  • Build and deepen competitive and resilient North American supply chains through coordinated policy approaches and eliminating barriers to trade in information and communications technology (ICT) products, parts and components, including semiconductors;

  • Advance ongoing efforts through the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework to address the tax challenges arising from the digitalization of the global economy, including by refraining from introducing new unilateral tax measures and pursuing sensible and administrable approaches in finalizing Pillars One and Two;

  • Support private sector-led international technology standards development and base any emerging regulatory requirements on international, industry-driven standards;

  • Facilitate inclusive trade, investment opportunities, and the participation of entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the North American market by promoting regulatory transparency, removing unnecessary burdens, and enabling equitable access to digital tools and services; and

  • Facilitate the use of digital systems for government procurement and contracting of services and public works, to ensure disclosure, transparency, citizen oversight, and effective accountability in anti-corruption efforts.

Read the full letter here.

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