Business Groups Urge U.S. and China to Minimize Tech Economy Barriers

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - Aug 12, 2015) - The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) has joined leading American business and technology groups in urging President Obama to use his upcoming summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping to improve the bilateral relationship for the U.S. information and communications technology (ICT) sector.

In a joint letter, the groups noted that the two countries have, for nearly four decades, "consistently pursued a mutually beneficial policy of encouraging economic openness and reducing barriers to bilateral trade and investment, including in the ICT sector." But they said the benefits of that cooperation "are now at risk, as a result of increasing and proliferating threats to national cyber-security as well as China's approach to defining its national security interests."

The business groups said that, since the last U.S.-China summit in November 2014, China has "increasingly pursued policies that have adversely affected the ability of U.S. ICT firms to do business in China." They called on the two countries to reaffirm their commitments to open markets, particularly in the ICT sector.

The groups also urged the U.S. and China to ensure that measures to protect national security affecting the ICT sector are necessary, narrowly-focused and minimize disruption to open trade and competition.

The full text of the industry letter is available at http://www.uscib.org/uscib-content/uploads/2015/08/2015_08_11_china_ict_letter.pdf.

About USCIB:
USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and regulatory coherence. Its members include U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms from every sector of our economy, with operations in every region of the world. With a unique global network encompassing leading international business organizations, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade and investment. More at www.uscib.org.