March 8, 2000 Washington DC -- Calling permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with China "essential to America's technological leadership," the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) today praised President Clinton's call for swift passage of PNTR with China.
"We are pleased that the President is working to secure passage of PNTR with China sooner rather than later. It is very good news that he will soon send legislation to Capitol Hill in the next couple days," said Rhett Dawson, president of ITI. "Opening trade with China is vital to America's economic growth and essential for the continued development of the Internet. We believe that Congress will support PNTR legislation because it will help maintain U.S. leadership."
The Chinese market is extremely important to the future growth of the United State's IT industry. China is now the world's fastest growing semiconductor market; second largest cellular phone market; the largest personal computer market outside the U.S.; and the fastest growing Internet marketplace - with nearly 9 million subscribers.
ITI is the association of leading U.S. providers of information technology products and services. It advocates growing the economy through innovation and supports free-market policies. ITI members had worldwide revenue of more than $460 billion in 1999 and employ more than 1.2 million people in the United States.
©2000 Information Technology Industry Council