OneWorld.net (U.S.)

Introduction EICTA1 believes in free, balanced, open and fair trade. EICTA therefore believes in zero tariffs and zero non-tariff barriers, world-wide, in a multilateral, rules-based trading system affording maximum access to markets with the minimum of barriers.

EICTA members declare their strong support for the Doha Development Agenda negotiations in the World Trade Organization as the best way to expand global trade liberalization in goods, services, and investment.

KEY OBJECTIVE: IMPROVED MARKET ACCESS

EICTA’s objective is to achieve a balanced, fair and open trading environment, the successful achievement of which will be in the best interests of consumers and industry alike.

While the majority of digital technology (ICT&CE) products made by EICTA members enjoy zero-tariffs as a consequence of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA), regulatory and other non-tariff barriers are becoming one of the main obstacles to the free flow of our products and are therefore an essential element of any proposals to improve market access for our products.

There are also many countries that are not members of the ITA and that still impose substantial tariff barriers. Another challenge experienced by our industry is the convergence of ICT and CE technologies, which can result, and increasingly does, in the classification of new innovative products into dutiable HS headings.

Source: WTO Office More