USCIB has cited numerous countries for maintaining barriers to exports of U.S. telecommunications and other products and services. In an extensive submission to the office of U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman, we recommended the following countries (and regions encompassing multiple countries) for inclusion in USTR’s annual National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report:

Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, European Union, Fiji, Germany, Ghana, Gulf Cooperation Council, India, Indonesia, Korea, Latin America Malaysia, Mexico, Middle East and North Africa, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Tonga, Turkey, Uganda, Uruguay and Vietnam.

USCIB’s submission was in response to a request from USTR for public comments to assist it in identifying significant barriers to U.S. exports of goods, services, and U.S. foreign direct investment for inclusion in the Congressionally mandated NTE. Also part of this request, USTR asked for information regarding trade barriers to telecommunications products and services pursuant to Section 1377 of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988.

The submission included comments detailing a wide assortment of trade barriers affecting a broad range of industries. Such cross-sectoral barriers include local content requirements, data storage requirements, customs-related issues, and intellectual property protection. The submission also delved into burdensome financial services regulations, problems with food safety laws, problematic tax laws, foreign direct investment restrictions, and foreign telecommunications policies and regulations that have the effect of restricting efficient and economic provision of these services, among others trade barriers.