InformationTechnologyAgreement
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Trump creates American Technology Council to 'modernize' US government
The White House has issued an executive order creating the American Technology Council. "Americans deserve better digital services from their government," Donald Trump writes. "The Federal Government must transform and modernize its information technology and how it uses and delivers digital services." The Council's aim is to "coordinate the vision strategy, and direction for the federal government's use of information technology (IT) and the delivery of services through information technology," according to the order.
China and the US agree to expand free trade in technology
China and the US may be at each other's throats over a lot of tech-related issues, but that hasn't stopped them from finding some common ground. The two nations have reached a tentative deal that expands the range of devices covered under the free trade-oriented Information Technology Agreement. The updated pact would shrink or eliminate the tariffs on computer storage, processors, GPS units and game consoles, among many other gadgets; it would also scrap import duties on additional hardware, including video cameras.
US files complaint with WTO over EU tariffs on high-tech products
Yeah, so Sony's hitting us with magically-thin OLED TVs, Microsoft is showing off Windows 7, and Google's demoing hot new Android phones, but nothing gets us going like an old-fashioned tariff agreement dispute based on the classification of certain types of goods, you know? That's just good clean fun. It's also what's going down between the US and the EU -- our charming government has just filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization, alleging that the EU is mis-classifying multifunction printers, flat-panel computer displays, and cable boxes that fall under the 1996 Information Technology Agreement in order to collect tariffs on their imports. Essentially all these products should be duty-free, but the EU says their additional functions require the ITA be re-negotiated to cover them -- LCD displays can also be used with DVD players, for example, and so qualify as "video monitors," which are taxed. Sure, it's a totally semantic fight, but that's what trade representatives live for -- we hear this one's going to be bigger than the 2006 Canadian Softwood Lumber Import showdown.[Via Physorg]
