The Telecommunications Industry Association comments highlight provisions within agreements that would benefit the information and communications technology industry.
Washington, D.C. – The Telecommunications Industry Association, the leader in advocacy, standards development, business development and intelligence for the information and communications technology industry, officially submitted its support for both the U.S.-Korea and the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreements to the United States Trade Representative's Office. TIA's submissions respond to USTR's request for public comments on both FTA's issued in late July, 2009.
Korea is the world's tenth largest economy and seventh largest U.S. goods trading partner. In 2008, two-way trade was roughly US$83 billion. U.S. goods exports alone totaled US$35 billion in 2007, making Korea the United States' eighth largest export market. Passage of the Colombia FTA would eliminate duties on eighty percent of U.S. exports of consumer and industrial products to Colombia, and an additional seven percent of U.S. exports would receive duty-free treatment within five years of implementation. In 2007, telecommunications equipment trade with Colombia was valued at $245 million, with $232 million in U.S.
exports.
"Implementing free trade agreements are important tools to build a strong, global digital economy," said TIA President Grant Seiffert. "Free trade agreements with the Republic of Korea and Colombia would benefit ICT manufacturers, suppliers and service providers of both countries by establishing greater market access, assuring a rules-based and predictable business climate and encouraging further bilateral investment."
TIA supports many provisions within the pending FTAs, including the principles of technology neutrality, the establishment of an independent telecommunications regulator, guidelines establishing government and regulations transparency, the protection of international property rights, and non-discriminatory access to public telecommunications networks and services.
TIA's Korea and Colombia filings are available on the USTR filings page at tiaonline.org.
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About TIA
The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) represents the global information and communications technology (ICT) industry through standards development, advocacy, tradeshows, business opportunities, market intelligence and world-wide environmental regulatory analysis. With roots dating back to 1924, TIA enhances the business environment for broadband, mobile wireless, information technology, networks, cable, satellite and unified communications. Members' products and services empower communications in every industry and market, including healthcare, education, security, public safety, transportation, government, the military, the environment and entertainment. TIA co-owns the SUPERCOMM® tradeshow and is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Visit tiaonline.org.
TIA's Board of Directors includes senior-level executives from ACS, ADC, ADTRAN, Alcatel-Lucent, ANDA Networks, AttivaCorp, Avaya, Bechtel Communications, Inc., Cisco Systems, Corning Incorporated, Ericsson, Inc., GENBAND, Inc., Graybar, Henkels & McCoy, ILS Technology, Intel Corporation, Intersect, Inc., LGE, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia Siemens Networks, Nortel, Openwave, Inc., Panasonic Computer Solutions Co., Powerwave Technologies, Qualcomm, Research In Motion, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corporation, Tellabs, Tyco Electronics, Ulticom, Inc., and Verari Systems. Advisors to the Board include FAL Associates, Orca Systems and Telcordia Technologies.
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