SIIA today announced its support for promoting cross-border data flows in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which is currently being negotiated. SIIA joined today with the National Foreign Trade Council and other trade associations representing a broad range of U.S. companies in a statement of support and a letter to US Trade Representative Ron Kirk, regarding this major priority for the digital economy.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership presents a vital opportunity to facilitate global e-commerce in the region while improving international efforts to enforce intellectual property rights. As the TPP undergoes its latest round of negotiations, the U.S. should work to ensure that international markets, enterprises and individuals can move and maintain data and information across borders in a reliable and secure manner.
Allowing data to flow seamlessly across borders gives countries the power to fully utilize cloud computing’s potential for cost savings and innovation,” continued Wasch. “We believe that by giving cloud computing room to thrive while also ensuring the effective protection of intellectual property rights, the TPP can enrich the broader regional economy.
Specifically, SIIA urges Ambassador Kirk to prioritize these legally binding commitments as the TPP is negotiated:
• Permit cross-border information flows, while ensuring that privacy and intellectual property rights are protected.
• Allow business enterprises from the TPP parties to transact business through e-commerce platforms without establishing a commercial presence in each country.
• Prohibit localization requirements that call for the use of local computing infrastructure, such as servers, as a condition for doing business or investment in a TPP country or engaging in e-commerce or cross-border trade.
Ken Wasch is President of SIIA.