"The impact of export controls on the ability of the technology industry to compete in the global marketplace cannot be emphasized enough," McCurdy said. "They hold us back from competing. Unilateral export controls essentially force us to cede the playing field to overseas competitors, or burden U.S. companies to the point that they cannot compete effectively.
"This bill does an admirable job of recognizing that when an item achieves mass market status or becomes readily available from overseas competitors, it should be released from pointless export controls.
"Both the Senate and the Administration deserve great credit for tackling this contentious issue and working it out successfully," McCurdy said. "We are hopeful the House of Representatives sees the overwhelming support of the Senate bill and follows a similar path."
EIA has been working for years to reform the U.S. export controls regime to reflect the new political, economic, and technological realities of the post-Cold War world. In 2000, more than one-third of what the U.S. electronics industry produced was exported overseas -- over $200 billion in goods. More than a third of the 1.8 million employees who work for U.S. electronics companies depend on exports for their jobs.
The Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) is a national trade organization that includes the full spectrum of U.S. manufacturers, representing more than 80% of the $550 billion electronics industry. The Alliance is a partnership of electronic and high tech associations and companies whose mission is promoting the market development and competitiveness of the U.S. high tech industry through domestic and international policy efforts. EIA, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, is comprised of more than 2,300 member companies whose products and services range from the smallest electronic components to the most complex systems used by defense, space and industry, including the full range of consumer electronic products. The industry provides more than two million jobs for American workers.
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