Negotiations to expand the Information Technology Agreement (ITA)...
Negotiations to expand the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) in Geneva were suspended Wednesday because of China’s reluctance to cut duties, said U.S. Trade Representative Mike Froman. “A diverse group of Members participating in the negotiations” decided China’s current position made…
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further progress impossible, he said. “We are hopeful that China will carefully consider the concerns it heard this week from many of its negotiating partners, and revise its position in a way that will allow the prompt resumption of the negotiations.” CEA Vice President-International Trade Sage Chandler said the ITA, not updated since its creation, could remove tariffs on an “estimated additional $800 billion in information and communication technology trade globally” if expanded. He said the expansion to include modern technology products is “vital,” and the World Trade Organization said the ITA’s expanded coverage “should reflect the realities of today’s trade.” CEA said China asked for the removal of more than 100 products from negotiations, which “cannot be viewed as a meaningful effort.” Chandler said the list of products that China wishes to exclude from lower tariffs should be “serious but limited,” saying “reciprocal treatment is required” for participation in negotiations. CEA said no date to resume discussions has been announced and urged negotiations to conclude no later than the Ninth WTO Ministerial Conference in December.