USCIB Letter to USTR Regarding

WTO's Basic Telecommunciations Agreement

January 23, 1998

Ambassador Charlene Barshefsky

U.S. Trade Representative

Winder Building

600 17th St. N.W.

Washington,  D.C.   20506

Dear Charlene:

The United States Council for International business (USCIB), representing 300 global corporations, professional firms and business associations, would like to take this opportunity to convey to you its view on the issue of  “entry-into-force” of the WTO Agreement on Basic Telecommunications.

The USCIB believes that the time has come for the benefits contained in the market access commitments made at the close of the negotiations last February to be realized.  We therefore urge the U.S. negotiating team to join with other WTO member countries to arrange for the immediate entry-into-force of the agreement.

While not all countries have completed the steps necessary to ratify the agreement under national procedures, a large majority have, and the benefits of opening these markets as soon as possible will be substantial.  Furthermore, it is our understanding that several of the countries that have not yet ratified attribute delay to procedural, rather than substantive, issues.  Many have scheduled congressional or parliamentary consideration of the agreement for the near future.

While we support an immediate entry-into-force, we also urge U.S. negotiators and the WTO to continue working to ensure that all countries that have made commitments ratify the agreement as soon as possible.  An immediate entry-into-force of the Basic Telecommunications Agreement will also give additional momentum to important efforts to bring additional nations into the WTO.

In conclusion, the USCIB believes that there is every reason to move forward now to obtain the benefits of the commitments made by those countries that have ratified the agreement.  Allowing commitments to market access and regulatory principles to take effect without further delay will benefit businesses, their customers, and national economies.

Sincerely,

Abraham Katz

# # #