CEA Voices Support For DOHA Agenda

Tariff and Non-Tariff Barrier Elimination a Priority WTO Urged to Embrace Sectoral Initiative.

Arlington, Virginia, 12/13/2005, In a press conference held today by the United States High-Tech Trade Coalition, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA®) joined sister associations from across the globe to voice support for the successful completion of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Development Agenda (DDA) negotiations. The coalition urged that significant steps be taken toward improving market access for information and communications technology/electronics (ICT) and electrical products.

Joining the European Information & Communications Technology Industry Association (EICTA) and the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA) and several other global IT and electronics trade associations, CEA and the U.S. High Tech Trade Coalition urged WTO members to agree to a sectoral negotiation on electronics in the non-agricultural market (NAMA) talks and cited a sectoral agreement, which would allow developed and developing economies to realize the benefits of the ICT/electronics and electrical industry, as the most effective and comprehensive approach to tariff and non-tariff barriers. Likewise, the industries asked for WTO negotiators to move forward with the Trade Facilitation agenda of the WTO to advance the efficiency, transparency and predictability of cross border trade, while maintaining the security of the supply chain.

The group applauded the WTO members who have made the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) a success and expressed a need to preserve and build upon the ITA’s relevance in light of rapid technological development and the convergence trend in electronics.

“Many products, including most consumer electronics (CE), were absent from the original ITA and there are new technologies that did not exist when the agreement was drafted,” said Elizabeth Hyman, senior director and tax and trade counsel for CEA. “Convergence of the IT and CE industries has resulted in many products being classified into dutiable customs categories. And, while the original ITA addresses tariff reduction, it does not address non-tariff barriers, which undermine benefits achieved through tariff elimination. CEA is honored to join our global IT partners in urging that the WTO talks move forward and that the WTO negotiators embrace an electronics sectoral initiative.”

About CEA:
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the consumer technology industry through technology policy, events, research, promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA represents more than 2,000 corporate members involved in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and integration of audio, video, mobile electronics, wireless and landline communications, information technology, home networking, multimedia and accessory products, as well as related services that are sold through consumer channels. Combined, CEA’s members account for more than $121 billion in annual sales. CEA’s resources are available online at www.CE.org, the definitive source for information about the consumer electronics industry. CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES - Defining Tomorrow’s Technology. All profits from CES are reinvested into industry services, including technical training and education, industry promotion, engineering standards development, market research and legislative advocacy.

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Jeff Joseph

Consumer Electronics Association (CEA®

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