CompTIA Applauds USTR's Actions to WTO on the Information Technology Agreement.

WTO Complaint Reflects Longstanding Concern That EU Not According with Agreement

The following statement may be attributed to Bob Kramer, Vice President of Public Policy for the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA):

WASHINGTON -- "CompTIA applauds the USTR's actions today that formally raise to the WTO a longstanding IT industry complaint that the EU has violated the letter and spirit of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA).

"The IT industry believes strongly in free trade, and arbitrary tariffs on information technology (IT) harm our industry's interests in the U.S., the EU and in third-countries as well. In the long run, all small and large business users of IT pay for these misbehaviors - either directly, through the costs that these tariff violations add to existing products, or indirectly, by thwarting the flow of technological innovation that businesses demand. The ITA was originally negotiated to avoid this, placing zero-tariffs on a broad array of productivity-enhancing technology exports, with the clear recognition that such technology will certainly undergo enhancements, yet still qualify for zero-tariff treatment.

"We hope an expeditious accommodation can be reached between the U.S. and the EU on these important matters - one that will uphold the full flexibility and applicability of the ITA."