May 2, 2017
News Release 17-065
Inv. No(s). 332-562 and 332-563
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
Second and Third USITC Digital Trade Reports Launched

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has instituted the second and third of three investigations to examine uses of new digital technologies for U.S. firms and the impact of foreign policy barriers to digital trade on the competitiveness of U.S. firms in international markets.

The new reports, both of which will be confidential, will focus on the global business-to-business market and the global business-to-consumer market. 

Global Digital Trade 2: The Business-to-Business Market, Key Foreign Trade Restrictions, and U.S. Competitiveness will analyze measures that affect the ability of U.S. firms to develop or supply business-to-business digital products and services to businesses abroad, and assess the impact of those measures on the competitiveness of U.S. firms supplying digital products and services, as well as on international trade and investment flows.  This confidential report will be delivered to USTR by October 29, 2018. 

Global Digital Trade 3: The Business-to-Consumer Market, Key Foreign Trade Restrictions, and U.S. Competitiveness will analyze measures that affect the ability of U.S. firms to develop or supply business-to-consumer digital products and services to consumers abroad, and assess the impact of those measures on the competitiveness of U.S. firms supplying digital products and services, as well as on international trade and investment flows. This confidential report will be delivered to USTR by March 29, 2019. 

The investigations were requested by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in a letter  received on January 13, 2017.  The USITC’s first investigation in this series, Global Digital Trade 1: Market Opportunities and Key Foreign Trade Restrictions, was instituted in February.  Details about this investigation can be found in the notice of institution dated March 16, 2017.  This report will be delivered to the USTR by August 29, 2017, and released to the public soon thereafter.

The USITC will hold a public hearing and seek written submissions in connection with the second and third investigations in the spring of 2018 and will issue a Federal Register notice with hearing information and submission deadlines at a later date.

Further information on the scope of the second and third investigations is available in the USITC's notice of investigation, dated May 2, 2017, which can be obtained from the USITC Internet site (www.usitc.gov) or by contacting the Office of the Secretary at 202-205-2000.

USITC general factfinding investigations, such as this one, cover matters related to tariffs or trade and are generally conducted at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative, the House Committee on Ways and Means, or the Senate Committee on Finance. The resulting reports convey the Commission's objective findings and independent analyses on the subjects investigated. The Commission makes no recommendations on policy or other matters in its general factfinding reports. Upon completion of each investigation, the USITC submits its findings and analyses to the requester. General factfinding investigation reports are subsequently released to the public unless they are classified by the requester for national security reasons.

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