ARLINGTON, Va. – As President Bush and Congressional Democrats today kicked off discussion of the 2007 trade agenda, the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) urged legislators and trade negotiators to lower global barriers to U.S. makers of information and communications technology (ICT) and electronics. Charlie Robinson, EIA's interim president and CEO, issued the following statement:

"Since Congress renewed the president's trade authority nearly five years ago, the U.S. technology sector has thrived. Increased trade has supported hundreds of thousands of American jobs and improved our industry's share of the global market.

"This year offers new opportunities to build on that success, with Congress, U.S. trade negotiators and industry all working together. By voting to lower tariffs and open new markets abroad, lawmakers can make this country more competitive and support U.S. innovators and workers.

"Many trade issues and debates lie ahead this year and some provisions will be of particular significance to the ICT and electronics industries. But one thing is clear: We shouldn't walk away from the progress and prosperity that international commerce has produced."

EIA is a leading advocate for expanded international trade and played an integral role in renewing the president's trade promotion authority in 2002. Increasing global commerce is a key plank of the Alliance's competitiveness agenda outlined in 2004's policy playbook, The Technology Industry at an Innovation Crossroads.