Stefan M. Selig is the Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade.
A robust trade and investment agenda ensures that U.S. companies can compete and win in the global marketplace. But that outcome does not come automatically. A significant reason is the expertise, services, and programs that ITA offers: from our best-in-class Commercial Service directly assisting exporters; to the regional and industry expertise of our Global Markets and Industry and Analysis units; to the protection provided by our Enforcement and Compliance unit, which ensures a level playing field for U.S. businesses.
On top of these services, we are proud to announce several major achievements that display how ITA is making it easier for U.S. businesses to access new markets, especially small and mid-sized companies.
ITA played a critical role in securing a historic tariff-cutting agreement with 47 nations at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The Information Technology Agreement—the first international tariff cutting agreement in 18 years—will eliminate tariffs on roughly 200 information and communications technology product lines (ICT) that have a global trade value of $1 trillion. ICT manufacturers in the U.S. will now have unprecedented access to new markets, which will help increase the number of jobs supported by our goods exports.
We recently launched a new partnership that will increase awareness of trade opportunities for small and medium-sized women-owned businesses. In affiliation with the organization Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), we will collaborate on marketing, education programs, and events that will directly assist women entrepreneurs in their exporting efforts.
PLEASE NOTE: This agreement applies to CT and MRI scanners.
