WASHINGTON – Today, global tech trade association ITI issued the following statement in reaction to the absence of digital trade disciplines in the Protocol to the U.S.-Brazil Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation (ATEC) relating to Trade Rules and Transparency, announced earlier today:

“At a time when barriers to digital trade are proliferating and a wide range of economies – including the United States and Brazil – are engaged in the negotiation of digital trade commitments at the World Trade Organization (WTO), the need for common agreement on strong digital trade disciplines is more urgent than ever. While we recognize the benefits of continued bilateral progress under the ATEC in areas such as good regulatory practices, anti-corruption, and customs and trade facilitation, today’s announcement reflects a missed opportunity to ensure common agreement on strong digital trade disciplines that would help both countries more effectively respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and embrace the benefits from digital transformation. We strongly urge Brazil and the United States to continue to advance discussions on digital trade with a view to reaching alignment on disciplines that are key to facilitating openness in the 21st century,” said Ashley Friedman, Senior Director of Policy at ITI.

In a September 10 letter sent to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Brazilian Foreign Affairs Minister Ernesto Araujo, ITI led several U.S. and Brazilian associations to call on both countries to incorporate foundational principles of digital trade should bilateral discussions advance.

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