Global tech trade association ITI has called on the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to address restrictions impacting U.S. digital trade in its upcoming 2025 National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report. In comments submitted to the USTR, ITI highlighted barriers faced by American and multinational tech companies in over 30 key markets worldwide. The association emphasized that these barriers could hinder job creation and innovation in data-driven products and services.

ITI's comments pointed out policies that exclude or restrict market access for U.S. information and communications technology goods and services or favor domestic businesses unfairly. Such restrictions, according to ITI, undermine market access commitments and disproportionately affect workers and small to medium-sized enterprises exporting digital services or connected goods.

"It is essential for the U.S. government to meaningfully advocate on these issues in all available fora," stated ITI in its comments. "Failure to clearly identify barriers to trade would hamper U.S. efforts to address such measures, implicitly permit governments to advance problematic policies, and risk a potential contagion effect as other governments consider similar policies, all to the detriment of U.S. exporters and workers."

The 2024 NTE Report had reduced focus on digital trade barriers, which ITI found concerning as it indicated a broader retreat from global trade leadership by the U.S. government.

"We urge the U.S. government to listen to stakeholders across the economy and ensure the 2025 NTE Report once again catalogues the full range of barriers to trade with which U.S. workers and businesses must contend," wrote ITI.

In addition, ITI suggested steps for maintaining global leadership in digital trade: taking action against disadvantageous trade restrictions; using available tools for enforcing existing agreements; pursuing new digital commitments with foreign governments; and increasing efforts within government agencies for a robust digital policy agenda.