ITIF appreciates the U.S. International Trade Commission’s (ITC) invitation to provide a post-hearing written submission regarding its investigation into global digital trade. This testimony builds on an earlier testimony before the ITC on March 6, 2018, and addresses a number of issues raised by ITC commissioners at that hearing.
It is imperative that the United States do more to identify, analyze, and respond to the growing number of countries which are enacting unfair and discriminatory policies that target U.S. ICT firms. The U.S.’s position as a world leader in many high-tech sectors will be undermined if these modern trade barriers continue to spread. Such a scenario would undermine these firm’s ability to contribute to U.S. economic competitiveness and innovation. Likewise, it’s imperative that the United States work with likeminded trading partners in addressing these barriers, including within multilateral organizations, such as the World Trade Organization, which have failed to adjust to these modern barriers to trade.
