East Idaho Times

U.S. Senators Mike Crapo, Jim Risch, Marsha Blackburn, and several colleagues have expressed their opposition to the United States Trade Representative's decision regarding digital trade at the World Trade Organization. The Senators wrote a letter to President Biden stating that the decision will have negative consequences for American innovators and small businesses.

In the letter, the Senators emphasized the importance of maintaining support for long-standing U.S. government positions on digital trade, data localization, and source code. They highlighted the impact that the decision will have on American businesses, stating, "This decision will create uncertainty and directly harm American innovators and small business that rely on the free flow of data and rules-based digital trade."

The Senators also raised concerns about the potential for intellectual property theft and the impact on future innovation by American companies. They warned that backing away from protections for intellectual property rights could lead to increased theft by adversaries like China and disincentivize innovation. The Senators urged for a reversal of the decision, emphasizing the importance of the United States maintaining its leadership in innovation and the digital economy.

Senators John Thune, Ted Budd, John Barrasso, Marco Rubio, Cynthia Lummis, and Jerry Moran also signed the letter, showing a united front in their opposition to the USTR's decision.

The letter has garnered support from various organizations, including the Consumer Technology Association, National Taxpayers Union, 365.Training, ACT | The App Association, Colorado Technology Consultants, the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBEC), and Global Force Tech Consulting.

The Senators and their colleagues are calling for a reconsideration of the USTR's decision to ensure that American businesses can continue to thrive in the digital economy and maintain their competitive edge on a global scale.