CompTIA Computing Technology Industry Associatio : Urges the Administration to Seize New Trade Opportunities with TPP Partners

WASHINGTON - CompTIA, the Computing Technology Industry Association, the world's leading technology association, released the following statement after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

'The TPP was a significant step forward for the information technology sector,' said Elizabeth Hyman, CompTIA's executive vice president of public advocacy. 'The United States must quickly pivot and seize new opportunities to build on our economic and geopolitical ties with these important trading partners in the booming Asia-Pacific region.

'With the rise of foreign regulatory barriers being placed on the U.S. technology sector abroad, there is no doubt that U.S. technology companies need trade agreements to maintain competitiveness and ensure growth in the industry. Our trading partners in the region are looking for strong U.S. leadership to write the rules of trade before others, particularly China, achieve their objective to advance a low-standard trading model.

'CompTIA supports efforts to negotiate trade agreements that include important elements to the tech sector, including those that will prohibit forced data localization, ensure the transfer of data across borders, protect American source code, and strengthen intellectual property rights.'

According to CompTIA's Tech Trade Snapshot, U.S. technology companies export $205 billion in manufactured goods a year, and tech services and software exports are more than $100 billion. An estimated 6 million American workers are employed in the information technology industry.

As the new Administration creates a strong economic policy framework for the United States, developing trade policies that will fuel the innovation of the technology industry is an important piece of the puzzle. CompTIA looks forward to working with the new Administration and Congress to achieve these goals.

###

CompTIA: Building the Foundation for Technology's Future
The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is the world's leading technology association, with approximately 2,000 member companies, 3,000 academic and training partners, over 100,000 registered users and more than two million IT certifications issued. CompTIA's unparalleled range of programs foster workforce skills development and generate critical knowledge and insight - building the foundation for technology's future. Visit CompTIA online, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

About CompTIA Advocacy
Through its advocacy arm, CompTIA champions member-driven business and IT priorities that impact all information technology companies - from small managed solutions providers and software developers to large equipment manufacturers and communications service providers. CompTIA gives eyes, ears and a voice to technology companies, informing them of policy developments - and providing the means to do something about it.

Press Contact:
Preston Grisham
[e-mail]
202-682-4458