The Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) today issued a letter to all members of the U.S. Congress today, urging them to support the U.S.-Chile and U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). EIA has been a strong supporter of liberalized trade with both countries, providing testimony to Congressional committees, the U.S. International Trade Commission and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on the positive economic benefits the agreements would have on the U.S. economy as a whole and on the electronics industry specifically. 

“With the FTA, electronics imported from Singapore will no longer be subject to duties, another opportunity for the U.S. to level the playing field for tariff treatment in comparison with countries that already maintain reciprocal duty-free relations with Singapore. The FTA with Chile will also eliminate tariffs immediately on 85% of exports, including on key items such as computers and other high-tech equipment. These developments will almost certainly expand trade and commercial relations between our countries,” wrote Dave McCurdy, president of EIA.

In its letter to Congressional members, EIA specifically noted the agreements’ strong intellectual property rights protection provisions. It also applauded the establishment of open markets and non-discriminatory access to telecommunications networks, and the introduction of the concept of digital products. “More than one-third of the jobs in the high-tech manufacturing sector are supported by exports, and we believe these agreements can play an important role in building U.S. employment,” McCurdy wrote.

Click here  to read EIA’s letter to the members of Congress.