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Blog: 10/02/15

Dance on ITA “Staging” Begins

by John Neuffer, President and CEO

GENEVA – Negotiators working to expand product coverage of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) held a series of meetings this week here that amounted to an initial “show-and-tell” on how far they are willing to go when it comes to assigning specific timeframes for tariff elimination for the myriad tech products covered by the agreement. […]

Trade
Blog: 09/23/15

Global Industry Urges ITA Negotiators to Show Restraint on Staging

by Semiconductor Industry Association

Following the hard-fought agreement achieved in July on the product list to expand the Information Technology Agreement (ITA), negotiators will return to Geneva next week to sort through implementation timeframes for the 201 high-tech product lines to be covered by ITA expansion. These timeframes are known as “staging,” the periods over which tariffs are eliminated. […]

Trade
Blog: 07/28/15

Thailand Gives ITA Expansion “Critical Mass”

by John Neuffer, President and CEO

Yesterday, we learned Taiwan had officially decided to support the product list to expand the scope of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA). Today, the good news keeps rolling in with Thailand now joining the larger group of negotiating parties to the agreement that finalized the list last Friday. With this, Thailand has delivered the all-important […]

Trade
Blog: 07/27/15

Another Good Day for Trade as Taiwan Gives Approval to ITA Expansion

by John Neuffer, President and CEO

Following the good news on Friday the product list to expand the scope of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) was formally approved in Geneva, Taiwan today has decided to climb on board to officially support the list and the accompanying declaration.

Trade
Blog: 07/24/15

A Good Day for Trade as ITA Expansion Rolls On

by John Neuffer, President and CEO

Following a tense, last-minute dust up, an agreement on the product list to expand the scope of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) won final approval today by all but a handful of the 54 countries involved in the talks during a meeting of ambassadors in Geneva. This is a decisive step forward in the hard-fought, […]

Trade
Blog: 07/18/15

It’s a Deal: ITA Negotiations on Track to Conclude on Friday

by John Neuffer, President and CEO

GENEVA – As negotiations to expand the product scope of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) got under way this morning, Geneva was cloaked in dreary, gray skies. But by this afternoon, the clouds had swept past, a brilliant sun emerged, and the ambassadors from the members of World Trade Organization (WTO) involved in the talks […]

Trade
Blog: 07/06/15

ITA Negotiations to Resume: Global Industry Strongly Presses for Conclusion Next Week

by John Neuffer, President and CEO

With negotiations to expand product coverage of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) finally back on track, global industry today issued an unambiguous call to the negotiating parties to reach agreement next week on the scope of products to be covered in this bold initiative. In a statement released today, more than 80 associations from around […]

Trade
Blog: 06/12/15

House Needs to Get Trade Promotion Authority Across Finish Line

by John Neuffer, President and CEO

SIA is encouraged the House of Representatives today voted in favor of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) on a bipartisan basis, but we are disappointed it failed to approve accompanying legislation that would allow TPA to be signed into law by the president. The failure to get TPA across the finish line is a missed opportunity […]

Trade
Blog: 06/11/15

House Closing in on Decisive Vote on Trade Promotion Authority

by John Neuffer, President and CEO

With much at stake for the semiconductor industry, the U.S. economy, and our country’s standing in the world, the House of Representatives looks poised to vote this week on bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation. SIA has long advocated for TPA and yesterday joined a coalition of technology leaders asking the House to swiftly approve […]

Trade
Blog: 05/26/15

Senate Approval of TPA a Big Win for Semiconductor Industry, U.S. Economy

by John Neuffer, President and CEO

On Friday night, the U.S. Senate approved bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority legislation that would foster free trade, promote job creation, and spur growth in the semiconductor industry and throughout the U.S. economy. SIA applauds the Senate for passing this much-needed legislation and urges the House of Representatives to move quickly to do the same. The […]

Trade
Blog: 05/21/15

What U.S. States Are Leading Exporters of Semiconductors? Some May Surprise You

by Semiconductor Industry Association

The U.S. Census Bureau publishes annual data on exports by state, and the recently published full-year 2014 semiconductor state export numbers provide some interesting takeaways. First, all 50 U.S. states exported semiconductors in 2014. This reflects the regional diversification of semiconductor manufacturing and the pervasiveness of the semiconductor manufacturing supply chain in the United States. […]

Trade
Blog: 04/23/15

Congress Should Approve Trade Promotion Authority Legislation

by John Neuffer, President and CEO

This week, House and Senate committees are considering the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA-2015), legislation that would enable free trade agreements, strengthen the U.S. semiconductor industry, and promote job creation and growth throughout the U.S. economy. The Senate Finance Committee approved the bill late yesterday with bipartisan support, and the […]

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