WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement in response to the decision by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to rescind support for longstanding U.S. negotiating objectives on digital trade:
“Digital trade rules ensuring the free flow of information and protecting proprietary technology serve to strengthen the global competitiveness of the U.S. economy and provide valuable guarantees for U.S. businesses in every industry. That’s why I’m so disappointed to see USTR abandoning those priorities in our trade negotiations, despite years of broad bipartisan support and their inclusion in trade agreements negotiated by presidents of both parties. Important domestic debates on regulating technology should not hold us back from continuing to work with our allies to develop guardrails for the global digital economy that reflect our shared values. If we are not at the negotiating table, we are giving China a free pass to set the rules of the road for the future of the global economy.”
Senator Coons is Chair of the Senate Judiciary’s Subcommittee on Intellectual Property.