February 8, 2000 Washington DC -- Stressing that trade with China is "important to the United States' continued technological leadership," the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) met this afternoon with Republican leaders in the House of Representatives. The meeting came on the same day that ITI's president testified before the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee on the importance of trade to the IT industry.
"Trade with China is good for consumers, will help grow our economy and will bring much needed reforms within China," said Rhett Dawson, President of ITI. "High-tech exports to China grew nearly 500% in the last decade, opening this dynamic market will enable the U.S. IT industry to grow its exports and maintain America's technological leadership."
The Chinese market is extremely important to the future growth of the United States' 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.
"In today's meeting we had a good discussion on how we can all work to pass permanent normal trade relations with China this year," continued Dawson. "We believe that bringing China into the World Trade Organization will force them to play by the rules and give U.S. companies greater access to one of the fastest growing markets in the world."
In addition to the meeting with the House leadership, ITI president, Rhett Dawson, testified before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on the importance of trade to the IT industry. In addition to pressing for passage of PNTR with China, Dawson also outlined ITI's trade agenda for the 21st Century. The agenda included extending the moratorium on a duty free cyberspace, making sure trade rules are technology neutral, and educating developing nations on how they can benefit from electronic commerce.
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