WASHINGTON – March 31, 2017 –The 2017 National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report, released today by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), highlights significant barriers to US exports, including barriers to digital trade such as policies that impede the international flow of data and several other detrimental policies. Many of the barriers the report identifies--including polices that impact companies’ ability to move data across borders, that require the disclosure of proprietary information, and that mandate the use of local content and/or technology--had been previously raised by BSA in response to USTR’s request for public comments to help inform the report. 

“We appreciate USTR highlighting market access barriers that impact digital trade in the 2017 NTE Report, and we urge the Administration to continue working with other governments to address these 21st Century economic issues,” said Victoria Espinel, President & CEO of BSA | The Software Alliance. “Eliminating barriers that prevent BSA members and other US companies from providing their products and services around the world is critical to allow them to continue innovating, creating jobs, and contributing to the U.S. economy.”