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TechWonk Blog
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In a statement released today, more than 80 trade associations from around the world are calling on the trade ministers from the 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies descending on Qingdao, China May 17-18 to reach a breakthrough in the negotiations to significantly expand product coverage of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA). Expansion of the agreement will create hundreds [...]
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As U.S. and EU trade negotiators meet this week in Brussels for the next round of 鈥淭-TIP,鈥� we urge both sides to place particular emphasis on the 鈥楶鈥�, the Partnership aspect of the undertaking.聽 Clearly, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership presents a significant opportunity to enhance and expand one of the most important bilateral trade relationships in history. One of the primary goals [...]
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Global industry sent a strong message this week to China鈥檚 senior-most leadership: return to the negotiating table to expand product coverage of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) with 鈥渁 more forward-leaning, ambitious approach.鈥澛� Communicated in a December 4 letter to Premier Li Keqiang, the heads over 40 associations from the around the world called on China to 鈥渁ctively help steer the negotiations鈥o [...]
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Dateline GENEVA:聽 After much erratic and obstructionist behavior by China over the course of the last ten days, it has just blown up the negotiations to expand product coverage of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA).聽 In a high-level meeting between the United States and China this afternoon, Beijing鈥檚 negotiators said they have zero mandate to move off their tepid list of import-sensitive products.聽 [...]
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Dateline GENEVA:聽 At an ambassadors鈥� meeting this afternoon here in Geneva, negotiations to expand product coverage of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) were extended an additional two days until close of business on Friday.聽 The reason for the extension is China, which has refused to seriously engage in the multilateral negotiations while virtually everyone else at the table has bent over [...]
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Dateline GENEVA:聽 Despite being on the receiving end of withering criticism here in Geneva, China is continuing its refusal to play ball in the multilateral effort to expand product coverage of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA).聽聽 As a result, the entire negotiations are at serious risk of collapse. Shortly after ambassadors directed very pointed questions to China for refusing to provide [...]
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Dateline GENEVA:聽 After a long and grueling week of negotiations to expand product coverage of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA), there is one big question hanging in the air:聽 Will China really blow up this once-in-a-generation effort to significantly eliminate tariffs on tech products that will bring huge benefits to China and the global economy? In fact, you can taste the irritation laced [...]
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Dateline GENEVA:聽 This is the ninth time this year negotiating teams from around the world have converged on the World Trade Organization (WTO) to expand product coverage of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA).聽 It鈥檚 by far the most important round of talks and the last one before the WTO ministers meet in Bali, Indonesia in early December, which has long been the target for completing an agreement.聽 [...]
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Dateline Geneva:聽 The initiative to expand product coverage of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) took an important step forward this week, increasing the chances of getting an ambitious outcome this year.聽 If successful, this would represent the most commercially significant tariff reduction undertaking achieved by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in the 17 years since the ITA was born. [...]
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Dateline Geneva:聽 After some soul-searching and hard work in key capitals around the world, talks to expand product coverage of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) have resumed this week in Geneva. 聽There are a few notable items to highlight as the talks get underway again after three months of being in suspension. For starters, as widely reported a week ago, the Chinese are returning to Geneva [...]