Washington — The Computer & Communications Industry Association today released recommendations for policymakers in the upcoming administration and 119th Congress to harness digital trade to boost the U.S. economy. CCIA encourages U.S. policymakers focused on foreign markets to address digital trade barriers and expand the reach of U.S. digital exports—a source of unique U.S. strength that delivered a $256 billion trade surplus (in digitally-deliverable services) in 2023.
In the “Digital Trade Agenda For 2025 and Beyond,” CCIA outlines priorities to maximize the benefits of digital trade by addressing existing barriers to U.S. digital exports abroad, negotiating and striking digital trade commitments with key partners, and engaging in international organizations to advance U.S. priorities.
CCIA retains a breakdown of digital trade barriers globally on the CCIA website, with accompanying memos highlighting these policies region-by-region (with breakdowns for the European Union, Asia & the Pacific region, the Middle East and Africa, the Americas, and the United Kingdom all available through the visualization on the website).
The following quote can be attributed to Jonathan McHale, CCIA Vice President of Digital Trade:
“The incoming administration and leaders on Capitol Hill have a prime opportunity to push the United States to re-engage on digital trade. Supporting U.S. leadership in the technology and services sectors means maximizing the reach of these exports, which serves as a critical counterbalance to our goods trade deficits. More importantly, since success in the digital ecosystem often requires scale beyond any single market, access to foreign markets will determine whether we continue to reap the productivity gains, innovation and job growth that are integral to this sector. Through enforcement, negotiation, and diplomacy, U.S. leaders should place the digital sector as front-and-center as it seeks to promote U.S. exports on the world stage.”
