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de is key to the U.S. digital The United States should work with like-minded
economy’s growth. partners to negotiate a binding trade agreement
that guarantees the ability to move data across
The bulk of U.S. services exports are digitally international borders, prohibits forced localization
tradeable, but the potential for expansion of of data or restrictions based on nationality of
the digital delivery of services exports remains ownership, and bars customs duties on electronic
largely untapped. Developed economies — and transmissions, among other objectives. One logical
particularly Europe — are the top markets for focus is a group of economies, dubbed the “Digital
U.S. exports of digitally tradeable services. These Dozen” in this report, considered potentially
exports, coming from every U.S. state, supported suitable partners to join the United States in a
more than 2 million U.S. jobs in 2020. America’s high-standard digital trade agreement: Australia,
small business exporters are among those with the Canada, Chile, Colombia, Japan, Korea, Mexico,
most to gain from digital technologies that have New Zealand, Peru, Taiwan, the UK, and the
the potential to overcome the longstanding hurdles members of ASEAN.
to exporting they face.
The United States finds itself at a
Foreign competitors see the same moment of promise and peril on
opportunities to increase exports of digital trade.
digitally tradeable services.
Export opportunities for digitally tradeable
Leading competitors in international markets services are expanding rapidly, and the United
include companies based in the European Union, States is well positioned to build on its formidable
India, and China. advantages in these areas. However, these
opportunities are endangered by the spread of
Unfortunately, global barriers to U.S. digital protectionism and the accumulation of
digitally tradeable services exports are discriminatory digital rules that often target
on the rise. American firms.
Left unchecked, the proliferation of these trade To forestall these threats, the United States must
barriers threatens to deprive American workers act now to push forward a vision for a digital trade
and companies of the potential benefits of agreement that can secure these opportunities
exporting digitally tradeable services. for American workers, small businesses, services
industries, and others.
To counter these foreign trade barriers
and secure the benefits of digital trade, The case for American leadership on digital trade
the United States must act quickly to is strong: It is time for the United States to move
negotiate a digital trade agreement with forward on this important initiative.
key partners.
SOUTH CHINA BUSINESS JOURNAL 18
economy’s growth. partners to negotiate a binding trade agreement
that guarantees the ability to move data across
The bulk of U.S. services exports are digitally international borders, prohibits forced localization
tradeable, but the potential for expansion of of data or restrictions based on nationality of
the digital delivery of services exports remains ownership, and bars customs duties on electronic
largely untapped. Developed economies — and transmissions, among other objectives. One logical
particularly Europe — are the top markets for focus is a group of economies, dubbed the “Digital
U.S. exports of digitally tradeable services. These Dozen” in this report, considered potentially
exports, coming from every U.S. state, supported suitable partners to join the United States in a
more than 2 million U.S. jobs in 2020. America’s high-standard digital trade agreement: Australia,
small business exporters are among those with the Canada, Chile, Colombia, Japan, Korea, Mexico,
most to gain from digital technologies that have New Zealand, Peru, Taiwan, the UK, and the
the potential to overcome the longstanding hurdles members of ASEAN.
to exporting they face.
The United States finds itself at a
Foreign competitors see the same moment of promise and peril on
opportunities to increase exports of digital trade.
digitally tradeable services.
Export opportunities for digitally tradeable
Leading competitors in international markets services are expanding rapidly, and the United
include companies based in the European Union, States is well positioned to build on its formidable
India, and China. advantages in these areas. However, these
opportunities are endangered by the spread of
Unfortunately, global barriers to U.S. digital protectionism and the accumulation of
digitally tradeable services exports are discriminatory digital rules that often target
on the rise. American firms.
Left unchecked, the proliferation of these trade To forestall these threats, the United States must
barriers threatens to deprive American workers act now to push forward a vision for a digital trade
and companies of the potential benefits of agreement that can secure these opportunities
exporting digitally tradeable services. for American workers, small businesses, services
industries, and others.
To counter these foreign trade barriers
and secure the benefits of digital trade, The case for American leadership on digital trade
the United States must act quickly to is strong: It is time for the United States to move
negotiate a digital trade agreement with forward on this important initiative.
key partners.
SOUTH CHINA BUSINESS JOURNAL 18
