FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 19, 2008

Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) Supports USTR in Urging WTO to Resolve Challenge to EU Technology Tariffs

U.S., Japan, Chinese Taipei Request Dispute Resolution Panel to Bring Europe Into Compliance With Information Technology Agreement

Washington, D.C. – The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leader in advocacy, standards development, business development and intelligence for the information and communications technology (ICT) industry, applauds U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab’s Aug. 18 announcement that the United States, Japan and Chinese Taipei have requested that the World Trade Organization form a dispute resolution panel to bring the EU into compliance with the Information Technology Agreement (ITA).
While TIA and its members are disappointed that the consultation process that was initiated on May 28 was unsuccessful, the association looks forward to a swift resolution and the EU complying with its ITA commitments. The establishment of a dispute resolution panel is the next logical step to successfully require the EU to restore full, zero-tariff benefits for products covered by the ITA.

The ITA is an important international agreement that eliminates tariffs on innovative technologies that positively transform the way the world communicates, conducts business, and educates its people. “The ITA spurs innovation and competitiveness, and it is unfortunate that European consumers and businesses are unable to reap its full rewards as a consequence of the EU’s failure to live up to its trade commitments,” said TIA President Grant Seiffert.
 

In addition to three ITA-covered products – set-top boxes, flat computer screen monitors, and multi-function printers – that are identified in USTR’s complaint against the EU, TIA is concerned that Europe may expand tariffs to other ITA-covered products such as GPS-enabled cell phones or phones with PDA functionality. “Innovation is the lifeblood of our industry. In addition to violating the ITA, penalizing industry for improving products by applying tariffs runs counter to the spirit and goals of the ITA,” said Seiffert.
 

For more information, please visit:
http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Document_Library/Fact_Sheets/2008/asset_upload_file70_15072.pdf

About TIA: Currently in its 84th year, the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) represents the global information and communications technology (ICT) industry through standards development, advocacy, business opportunities, market intelligence and world-wide environmental regulatory analysis. TIA enhances the business environment for thousands of companies and individuals whose focus is broadband development and deployment (including wireless and landline infrastructure and services), information technology (IT) for commercial or residential application, Internet Protocol (IP) hardware, software and content solutions, and the convergence of voice, video and data (“triple play”) applications and evolution.

TIA co-owns NXTcomm, the tradeshow serving the ICT industry; is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI); serves as the secretariat for the Third Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2); holds Board of Director positions on the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) TELECOM and USITO Boards; and hosts the USA pavilions in ITU trade fairs worldwide.
 

More than 1,100 subject matter experts and other industry leaders participate in TIA’s 70+ standards committees and TIA has produced more than 1,150 standards documents. From mobile and personal communications systems to fiber optics and cabling infrastructure, from vehicular telematics and terrestrial mobile multimedia to healthcare ICT, TIA’s engineering committees work to formulate positions and prepare international standards and reports for use by industry and government.
 

In government affairs and international trade, hundreds of experts are at the table helping to advance and advocate initiatives on behalf of the industry – projects such as advancing global broadband deployment across wireline, wireless and cable platforms; advocating advanced spectrum management; encouraging policies to enable information access for persons with disabilities; seeking allocation of additional spectrum to advance wireless services and public safety; facilitating market opportunities by promoting full, fair and open trade and competition in international markets; and ensuring that the U.S. communications sector continues to be a leader in advanced research.
 

On the environmental front, TIA’s EIATRACK subscription-based web service, on the Web at www.eiatrack.com, enables companies to determine up-to-date information on environmental compliance of their products in various regions around the world.

TIA’s Board of Directorsincludes senior-level executives from ACS, ADC, ADTRAN, Alcatel-Lucent, ANDA Networks, ArrayComm, AttivaCorp, Avaya, Bechtel Communications, Inc., Cam Communications, Cisco Systems, Corning Incorporated, Ericsson, Inc., Graybar, Henkels & McCoy, Intel Corporation, LGE, Microsoft, Motorola, Nortel, OneChip Photonics Inc., Panasonic Computer Solutions Co., Qualcomm, Research In Motion, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corporation, Tellabs, Tyco Electronics, Ulticom, Inc., Verari Systems, Westell Technologies, Inc. and Zebra Technologies Corporation. Advisors to the Board include FAL Associates, ILS Technology, Orca Systems and Telcordia Technologies.

TIA membership enhances the ability of companies to prepare for the future of communications. TIA brings people and businesses together by helping the industry overcome technical and political barriers to communications. Visit www.tiaonline.org for details.

 

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