WASHINGTON – March 17, 2021 – BSA | The Software Alliance welcomes today’s confirmation of Katherine Tai as United States Trade Representative (USTR). As the US works to recover from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, forward-looking digital trade policies are more important than ever.

“The software industry, which supports 14.4 million US jobs, urges USTR to promote digital trade policies that facilitate the responsible transfer of data across borders. Tens of thousands of American jobs in states from Massachusetts to Colorado rely on the tech industry to power innovation and growth across the entire US economy,” said Victoria Espinel, President and CEO of BSA | The Software Alliance. “Data transfers don’t just benefit the technology sector – in fact, 75 percent of the value of data transfers accrues to industries like agriculture, logistics, and manufacturing. USTR can grow high-skilled middle-class jobs and spur greater export-led growth with digital trade policies that support American advanced manufacturing and services market access abroad.”

“Unfortunately, a growing number of US trading partners, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, are erecting digital barriers to US exports, emulating the digital trade restrictions in China’s 2017 Cybersecurity Law. These barriers hurt American workers and make our economy less competitive,” Espinel continued. “We look forward to working with the USTR to reassert US leadership and negotiate digital economy agreements that grow US exports and jobs, bolster digital inclusion and democratic governance, and build a more resilient and digitally skilled US workforce.”

To learn more about BSA’s trade policy recommendations, read our Priorities in Digital Trade for the Biden Administration and our position paper Bringing GSP Into the Digital 21st Century.