Developers Alliance has joined a multi-association coalition in support of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Joint Initiative on E-commerce (JSI) negotiations. The associations represent technology companies active across the world and in all economic sectors. The Alliance has previously supported U.S. industry efforts in support of the negotiations.
Key Points:
- The JSI negotiations offer a unique opportunity to reach an international agreement that can help realize the promise of cross-border access to technology and the trusted movement of data for all economic sectors and across regions.
- The agreement should respect the right to regulate where necessary and be guided by principles of non-discrimination, transparency, and interoperability among legal frameworks.
- The participating parties should continue to seek ambitious goals, including on data and source code, to deliver the first ever high standard global baseline agreement on digital trade. It is regretful, in this sense, the US the Office of the United States Trade Representative’s decision to withdraw its long-standing support of core digital trade principles.
- These efforts will also support similar work in other multilateral fora, such as the G7’s engagement on promoting internet freedom and advancing collaboration on cross-border data flows.
The following quote can be attributed to Bruce Gustafson, President and CEO for the Developers Alliance:
“All modern trade has a digital component, and digital trade barriers are simply traditional trade barriers in disguise. The promise of cross-border digital trade is fundamentally important for the software community, whose goods and services are exclusively digital and whose markets often transcend national boundaries. Trade policy must evolve and accept that there is already a borderless international trade system in digital goods. No single country should hold a veto over the digital economy, and we encourage WTO members to work collaboratively on rules that maintain open markets among all its member nations. The Developers Alliance is working in both Europe and the United States to ensure the playing field is level for innovators of all sizes. Large multinational firms may have the resources to navigate an uneven marketplace, but small- and medium-sized businesses need clear and fair rules of the road to compete in the international arena.“
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About The Developers Alliance
The Developers Alliance is the world’s leading advocate for software developers and the companies invested in their success. Alliance members include industry leaders in consumer, enterprise, industrial, and emerging software development, and a global network of more than 75,000 developers.
Press Contact
Heather Coull
Head of Marketing and Communications
617-688-0440
heather@developersalliance.org
