EU-US Agree on Principles for Trade in Information and Communication Technology Services The European Commission and the US Government, under the framework of the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC), agreed today on a set of ten fundamental principles for trade in information and communication technology (ICT) services, such as transparency, openness and non-discrimination. "These principles, which both the EU and the US will seek to incorporate in their trade agreements with other countries, will help to ensure that trade rules are used as an effective tool to open up ICT markets worldwide to the benefit of all businesses and consumers," said Neelie Kroes, European Commission Vice President for the Digital Agenda. EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht stressed that these principles "are an excellent example to demonstrate the important role the TEC can play in bringing transatlantic convergence activities to a higher political level. This will also help us when engaging with other trade partners." The TEC is the central political platform for EU-US cooperation on regulatory and economic strategy issues. Its main objectives are to further transatlantic regulatory convergence, thus helping to prevent barriers to trade and investment, in particular in key emerging sectors. It is also meant to facilitate coordinated approaches to other markets. The ICT trade principles agreed today are a concrete step in this direction. MORE <http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/11/402> -- Marco Pancini Senior Policy Counsel - Google Chaussee d'Etterbeek 180 - 1000 Brussels - Belgium Desk: +32.(0) 28948492 - Mobile: +32.(0) 473531203 This email may be confidential or privileged. If you received this communication by mistake, please don't forward it to anyone else, please erase all copies and attachments, and please let me know that it went to the wrong person. Thanks.