WASHINGTON - January 15, 2019 - In comments on the upcoming US-UK trade negotiations, BSA | The Software Alliance called for rules to safeguard cross-border data transfers and to promote frameworks relating to intellectual property and voluntary standard-setting that can help drive future software innovation. BSA also called on the Office of the US Trade Representative to negotiate rules to counter digital protectionism, including in the form of data localization requirements, customs duties on electronic transmissions, preferential treatment for state-owned enterprises, and source code or algorithm disclosure requirements and other forced technology transfer mechanisms.

Software is a key economic driver for both countries. In the United States, software contributes more than $1 trillion to the GDP and supports more than 10.5 million jobs. In the United Kingdom, software contributes €170 billion to the GDP and supports 2.7 million jobs. Software relies on the movement of data across borders to deliver these benefits. By incorporating improvements into trade negotiations with the United Kingdom and trading partners elsewhere, the software industry can continue creating US jobs and improving the competitiveness of US industries while advancing trans-Atlantic trade relations. BSA looks forward to engaging on these negotiations as they progress.