ICC recommendations on upholding the WTO Information Technology Agreement (ITA)
Publication date : 06/02/2008 | Document Number : 103/287
The Information Technology Agreement (ITA) is a World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement, which entered into force in 1997. In becoming a party to the Agreement, a country commits to bind and eliminate customs duties on covered goods (e.g., personal computers, computer monitors, computer printers, semiconductors, telecommunications apparatus). To date, 70 countries have joined the ITA, representingmore than 97 per cent of global trade in the high-tech sector.
The ITA is an important example of a successful international trade agreement – it has expanded access to the IT products that power the global economy, lowered prices for businesses and consumers, and facilitated worldwide innovation and digitalization. Its undermining is of concern both to global IT/ICT companies that are ICC members, but also to the broader business community represented by ICC that benefits from free trade in these products. Therefore, ICC opposes any efforts to unravel, whether in spirit or letter, the ITA and undermine the benefits it has produced.
For further information, please contact
Nicolle GRAUGNARD
Policy Manager, Trade and Investment Policies
Tel:
+33 (0)1 49 53 28 43
nicolle.graugnard@iccwbo.org