FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 4, 2007

Senate Approves Peru TPA

TIA Applauds Bipartisan Victory for Key Pact, Echoes White House Support for Trade Agreements.

Arlington, Va. - The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) praised the U.S. Senate for its definitive action in approving H.R. 3688, the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA), by a vote of 77-18. The bill would implement a trade agreement with Peru, first signed in April 2006 and revised this past May, that greatly reduces unfair impediments to entering the Peruvian market. TIA has long advocated quick approval of the U.S.-Peru TPA, as well the other three completed U.S. trade agreements -- with Panama, Colombia and South Korea.

The TPA will benefit TIA member companies, as well as the overall U.S. economy. Currently, the U.S. market is wide open to Peruvian products, while U.S. goods face tariffs as high as 25 percent in Peru. Under the agreement, tariffs on U.S. information and communication technology (ICT) equipment will be eliminated, and U.S. exports to Peru are expected to increase. TIA members will benefit from reductions in non-tariff barriers, including improvements in intellectual property rights protection and facilitated customs processing. The U.S.-Peru trade agreement, together with the other completed trade agreements, would contribute to continued growth for the U.S. ICT sector. Accordingly, TIA urges Congress to approve the trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and Korea as soon as possible.

"Tariff elimination is a key element in fueling demand for U.S. high tech products in Peru, where wireless and broadband growth is in double digits" said TIA President Grant Seiffert. "Looking ahead, we anticipate significant growth opportunities in overseas markets, where over 72 percent of our industry's revenues are generated," he added. "Approving all pending trade agreements demonstrates a strong U.S. commitment to a fairer, more open global economy."

For more information on TIA free trade advocacy, please contact Ian Martinez at imartinez@tiaonline.org.

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About TIA
For almost three decades, TIA has leveraged its global resources to create the best possible business environment within which our 500+ members can research, develop, manufacture, market and sell their products and services worldwide. The association accomplishes this through its expertise in standards, advocacy, business development, market intelligence, environmental compliance and information security. TIA is committed to expanding market opportunities while protecting and enhancing the reputation of the global communications industry with all its stakeholders. For more information, go to www.tiaonline.org.