Tech Hails ITC on USMCA Digital, Telecom Impact as Industry Seeks Congressional OK
The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on trade “is likely to have a significant, positive impact on the many U.S. industries that rely on cross-border data flows and digitally enabled trade,” said an International Trade Commission report to Congress Thursday. Tech groups…
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hope this hastens USMCA congressional approval. The U.S. telecom industry would gain increased access to “networks and interconnection provisions” if USMCA became law, said the report. The agreement’s “digital trade-facilitating provisions” and “explicit data flow protections” would also boost e-commerce, it said. U.S. e-commerce firms are likely to benefit from protection against data flow restrictions and forced localization, said ITC. “Up to now, firms have largely been able to transfer data freely between the countries,” it said. “However, no current policies protect this free flow of data from future policies that might restrict it. The commitments in USMCA address this regulatory uncertainty by providing assurance to firms that current conditions will be maintained.” Updating the North American Free Trade Agreement “was much needed and the USMCA is a welcomed step forward in modernizing trade among strong U.S. trading partners and enabling digital trade,” said Computer & Communications Industry Association CEO Ed Black. This is “an important step in the congressional approval process of USMCA,” said Jordan Haas, Internet Association director-trade policy. IA urges "swift action" in Congress to approve it. Other tech groups said similar.