Washington — The Computer & Communications Industry Association welcomes the agreement on digital trade announced today between Presidents Abe and Trump as an important first step in strengthening the U.S.-Japan trade relationship.
CCIA is encouraged that the two countries recognize the importance of digitally-enabled trade in goods and services and the need to lower barriers to encourage exports. According to USTR, the agreement includes positive commitments on enabling data flows, source code protection, and prohibitions on customs duties on electronic transmissions.
As CCIA outlined in comments to USTR last year and in a joint association letter to Ambassador Lighthizer, a trade agreement that does not fully addresses the needs of the digital economy would fall short.
The following can be attributed to CCIA President & CEO Ed Black:
“This is a good first step. In the future, a comprehensive U.S.-Japan trade agreement would help to partially fill the void left by the U.S. withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. We would encourage countries to continue dialogue as the two parties work towards a comprehensive trade agreement with strongly enforceable digital protections.”
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