USTR Focus on Telecommunications and E-Commerce |
The Telecommunications and E-Commerce section covers trade policy issues that affect U.S. business interests related to telecommunications equipment and services, computer and related services, and electronic commerce. The U.S. is a global leader in the information and communication technologies (ICT) sector, exporting annually approximately $125 billion in ICT equipment and services, according to the Digital Economy 2003 report published by the Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA). Liberalized trade in this sector, therefore, is essential not only to growth of the U.S. economy, but is also important for global economic development, as the use of ICTs increases countries’ abilities to promote innovation, improve productivity, and lower transaction costs. |