"The Electronic Industries Alliance and its 1,300 member companies commend President Bush for communicating the need to make our economy more innovation-friendly and competitive in his State of the Union Address this week.

As the leading advocate in Washington for the U.S. high-tech industry, EIA intends to work with policymakers in 2005 to bolster the health and long-term growth of the U.S. innovation economy. As a place to do business, America needs to keep pace with the competitiveness shown by other nations that are providing access to large consumer and business markets, trained and highly educated workforces, and attractive economic conditions for high-tech companies doing business in the global economy.

One of the nations that is becoming increasingly competitive is China. Much attention has been given to America's actions to promote democracy and free societies in Afghanistan and Iraq, and rightfully so. It is critical that the U.S. also foster relations with China, a country that has become the next great trading partner, geopolitical power and global economic engine of the 21st century. Trade with China poses unique opportunities, as well as challenges such as intellectual property rights and currency issues.

As the voice of the U.S. high-tech industry, EIA is ready and willing to work with the Bush Administration to help the U.S. improve our innovation-based economy while increasing market access abroad through trade, economic expansion and tariff reduction or outright elimination in other countries."