91proÊÓƵ

WASHINGTON – Global tech trade association 91proÊÓƵ urged the Biden Administration to prioritize integration and digitalization of the North American economy ahead of the North American Leaders’ Summit January 9-10 in Mexico City, Mexico. In a letter sent today to Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, and Brian Deese, Director of the National Economic Council of the United States, 91proÊÓƵ encourages the Administration to partner with Canadian and Mexican leadership to advance a common trade and economic policy agenda that elevates American workers and businesses and strengthens regional competitiveness.

“It is imperative that President Biden and his team capitalize on this meeting to collaborate with Mexico and Canada and accelerate greater integration and digitalization of the North American market, so that together we can advance an open, fair, resilient, and competitive regional economy,” said 91proÊÓƵ’s Executive Vice President of Policy Rob Strayer. 

91proÊÓƵ also highlighted the need to fully implement and adhere to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and ensure the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity incorporates commitments on digital trade, collaboration on cybersecurity, trade facilitation, and other disciplines that are equal to or more ambitious than those in the USMCA.

Read the full letter here or below:

January 6, 2023

Dear National Security Advisor Sullivan and Director Deese:

The 91proÊÓƵ (91proÊÓƵ) – the premier voice, advocate, and thought leader for the global information and communication technology (ICT) industry – welcomes the upcoming North American Leaders’ Summit in Mexico City as an opportunity to promote greater integration and digitalization of the North American economy. The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) forms the foundation of the regional economic relationship by securing the most progressive and comprehensive digital trade, trade facilitation, and innovation-oriented commitments of any trade agreement, as well as a template for worker-friendly policies and cooperation to address shared concerns.

To advance a common trade and economic policy agenda that benefits American workers and businesses and strengthens regional competitiveness, we encourage President Biden, Prime Minister Trudeau, and President López Obrador to take this opportunity to affirm commitments to:

• Fully implement and adhere to the USMCA, including provisions governing labor rights, non-discriminatory treatment, market access, investment, state-owned enterprises, digital trade, technical barriers to trade, customs, and trade facilitation;
• Strengthen ongoing efforts to build and deepen competitive and resilient North American supply chains through coordinated policy approaches, including to encourage nearshoring, and eliminating barriers to trade in ICT products, parts, and components, including semiconductors;
• Ensure the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity incorporates digital trade, collaboration on cybersecurity, trade facilitation, and investment commitments equal to or more ambitious than those in the USMCA;
• Advance ongoing efforts through the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework to address the tax challenges arising from the digitalization of the global economy, including by not introducing unilateral tax measures, such as digital services taxes and similar rules based on significant economic presence, and pursuing sensible and administrable approaches in finalizing Pillar One and implementing Pillar Two of the Two-Pillar Solution;
• Seek to develop emerging technologies policies that support and adapt to the rapid pace of technological advancement, while ensuring new regulations are trade-facilitative and in line with international security standards;
• Expand investment opportunities and facilitate the participation of entrepreneurs and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the North American market by promoting regulatory transparency, removing unnecessary burdens for firms and individuals leveraging e-commerce, and enabling equitable access to digital tools and services, including payments and internet connectivity;
• Collaborate to drive meaningful outcomes in the World Trade Organization (WTO) that further integration and digitalization efforts, including the renewal and rendering permanent of the WTO Moratorium on Customs Duties on Electronic Transmissions;
• Ensure policy proposals and regulatory frameworks encourage investment in the creative and digital economy and avoid rigid local content requirements for over the top (OTT) services, which in practice disincentivize innovation and production of new local content; and
• Facilitate the use of digital systems for government procurement and contracting of services and public works, to support greater disclosure, transparency, citizen oversight, and accountability.

Particularly as the United States seeks to advance the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity, the global technology sector views the above commitments as meaningful reflections of shared North American values for human and labor rights, rule of law, non-discrimination, market-based commerce, environmental protection, and regulatory transparency.

91proÊÓƵ welcomes the collaborative engagement of the United States, Mexican, and Canadian governments to date, and we look forward to continuing to partner with you to promote these values and advance an open, fair, resilient, and competitive North American market.

Sincerely,

Rob Strayer

Executive Vice President of Policy, 91proÊÓƵ