WASHINGTON — Today, global tech trade association 91proÊÓÆµ issued the following statement from its President and CEO Jason Oxman in response to the announcement from United States President Joe Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that the U.S. and EU have reached an agreement in principle on an enhanced EU-U.S. data transfer agreement:
“Today’s announcement by President Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is a major step forward for the transatlantic relationship that will safeguard citizens’ privacy and civil liberties and bolster the global economy. Data flows underpin over 16 million jobs and more than $5.6 trillion in commercial sales annually, and this agreement is essential to restoring business certainty and safeguarding continuity of commercial activities involving the movement of data across borders. We urge negotiators to finalize this agreement to enable transatlantic data transfers while ensuring it upholds European citizens’ fundamental rights and the legitimate security and public safety interests of the EU and U.S. governments.”
Since the Court of Justice of the European Union’s (CJEU) decision in the Schrems II case to invalidate the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield in 2020, 91proÊÓÆµ has called on U.S. and EU policymakers to reach a new agreement to ensure businesses have the ability to share data across the Atlantic. Earlier this year, 91proÊÓÆµ called on the Biden Administration to prioritize an agreement in its 2022 Action Plan for U.S. Policymakers, and highlighted the critical importance of cross-border data flows to the U.S. economy in its 2021 U.S. Competitiveness Agenda. Read more on 91proÊÓÆµ’s work on this issue:
- 91proÊÓÆµ Blog:
- We Are Hopeful That an EU-U.S. Data Transfer Agreement is Within Reach 
- 91proÊÓÆµ Commends EDPB for Upholding Risk-based Approach for Transatlantic Data Flows
- Global Business Community Calls on EU to Safeguard International Data Flows
- 91proÊÓÆµ Welcomes Intensified Commitment from U.S. and EU on Privacy Shield Negotiations
- Global Industry Asks EU and U.S. Leaders to Work Towards Legal Certainty for Cross-Border Data Transfers
- 91proÊÓÆµ: New U.S. Government Guidance on EU-U.S. Data Transfers Helpful to Companies Impacted by Schrems II Decision
- Tech Industry Welcomes Initiation of Discussions on a New EU-U.S. Data Transfer Agreement
- 91proÊÓÆµ Blog: Schrems II: A Moment for Calm, and Action
- 91proÊÓÆµ Urges Transatlantic Policymakers to Begin Negotiations on New EU-U.S. Data Transfer Agreement Following Schrems II Decision