Brussels/Washington – The U.S. and European Union published a joint statement today on the Framework Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade. In today’s statement, both parties committed to addressing unjustified digital trade barriers under the Framework Agreement, and the EU confirmed that it will not adopt or maintain network usage fees.
The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) welcomes the joint statement as an initial step toward refocusing bilateral efforts toward a more innovation-friendly transatlantic digital market by strengthening digital trade, enhancing market access, and benefiting consumers and businesses in both economies.
CCIA is encouraged by the commitment from the United States and the European Union to strengthen their economic partnership and address longstanding trade issues. The focus on eliminating non-tariff barriers is a positive step that will benefit the technology sector and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic.
The commitment by the EU to forego measures that would result in network usage fees represents a step towards addressing one of the numerous barriers that CCIA has identified as impeding market access to the European market, one that would have also made European consumers pay twice for the same internet traffic.
CCIA has supported open markets for more than 50 years.
The following can be attributed to Jonathan McHale, CCIA’s Vice President for Digital Trade:
“We welcome the U.S. and EU agreement to pursue a framework that reinvigorates our economic partnership and opens the door to more predictable and mutually-beneficial digital trade. The commitment to rule out network usage fees is a welcome step, but more will need to be done to tackle longstanding digital trade barriers at the bloc- and member-state level.”
“While this framework is a promising development, the real work only begins now. To achieve real results, we urge both parties to prioritize the removal of remaining digital trade barriers. This includes discriminatory and disproportionate aspects of the Digital Markets Act, digital services taxes in effect in France, Spain, Austria, and Italy, as well as France’s discriminatory cloud computing scheme.”
The following can be attributed to Daniel Friedlaender, CCIA Europe’s Senior Vice President & Head of Office:
“We are encouraged by today’s transatlantic pledges to strengthen cooperation on cybersecurity and standards, reduce unjustified non-tariff barriers, and put harmful policies such as network usage fees to rest. With the right focus and execution, there’s a lot in this framework agreement that will contribute to boosting Europe’s digital competitiveness.”
“The priority now is to turn this framework into real-world results – breaking down barriers, boosting innovation, and delivering concrete benefits for consumers and the wider economy on both sides of the Atlantic.”
