USACM Supports Creation of a New Public Interest Trade Advisory Committee

USACM today strongly supported the creation of a new Public Interest Trade Advisory Committee in its comments submitted to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). The Public Interest Trade Advisory Committee would serve as a new mechanism for stakeholder input on trade policy issues.

USACM encourages the Advisory Committee, once established, to seek stakeholder input on trade-related principles and policies affecting public interests in the digital age. Digital trade and internet-based products and services are important components of the global economy. Across every major industry and across society broadly, new developments in these areas have created countless new jobs, products, and services; have accelerated the speed, scope, and scale of innovation; have resulted in diverse consumer products and growing consumer demand; and have facilitated advanced manufacturing and big data analytics vital to U.S. businesses being leaders in the global economy. Trade policies should foster and encourage a wide variety of digital technologies and services to emerge within a competitive marketplace.

USACM also encourages the Advisory Committee to include quality technical information and advice from the computing community. Such technical information and advice will help the Committee better evaluate and strengthen policy recommendations to the USTR.

USACM looks forward to the creation of the Public Interest Trade Advisory Committee and to participating in its activities, particularly as they relate to the potential impacts of trade policies to intellectual property rights and their enforcement and the privacy, security, and accessibility of digital products and services.

USACM commends the USTR for its ongoing commitment to expanding trade and investment opportunities to strengthen the U.S. economy and to benefit American businesses and consumers.

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