FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 7, 2007

House Approves Peru TPA

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

Arlington, Va. - The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) praised the U.S. House of Representatives for its definitive action in approving H.R. 3688, the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA), by a vote of 285-132. 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.

TIA now urges the Senate to take quick action to approve the TPA, which 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 significantly. TIA members will also benefit from reductions in non-tariff barriers, including improvements in intellectual property rights protection and facilitated customs processing. The 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 U.S. Peru TPA and to consider the trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and Korea as soon as possible, echoing calls by President Bush at this week's White House Forum on International Trade and Investment, where TIA President Grant Seiffert joined other sector heads in a strategy and education session on the trade agreements.

"Looking forward, we anticipate significant growth opportunities in overseas markets, where over 72 percent of our industry's revenues are generated," said TIA President Grant Seiffert. "Tariff elimination will fuel demand for our members' products in Peru, where broadband and wireless market segments are growing at double digit rates. We hope the Senate will follow the example set by the House today by taking decisive action to ensure a fairer, more open global economy."

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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 http://www.tiaonline.org.