Washington — TechNet, the national, bipartisan network of innovation economy
CEOs and senior executives, today welcomed the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of Robert
Lighthizer to be U.S. Trade Representative and expressed its hope for advancing
a pro-innovation trade agenda.
“American tech entrepreneurs
and workers produce the world’s most sought after innovations, and we need a robust
trade agenda that maximizes opportunities for American businesses and workers and
enforces Americans’ intellectual property rights,”
said Linda Moore, president and CEO of TechNet.
“We congratulate Ambassador Lighthizer on his confirmation to be U.S.
Trade Representative and look forward to working with him to advance a trade agenda
that fully seizes the opportunities that trade offers American innovators and workers.”
“As Ambassador Lighthizer settles into his new role and the Administration
focuses on its trade agenda, we must ensure that every effort is made to support
the modern digital economy,” Moore added. “This includes policies to support the free flow
of data, remove tariff and non-tariff barriers that hurt American tech workers,
support safe harbors against intermediary liability, and oppose data localization
requirements and other measures that discriminate against U.S. technology.”
Between 2005 and 2014, cross-border
data flows grew by 45 times, generating $2.8 trillion in economic value in 2014
— a greater impact on world GDP than global trade in goods.