| February 12, 2007 | For Immediate Release |
Contact: John Greenagel or Anne Craib 408-436-6600 |
SAN JOSE, CA – March 14, 2007 – The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) today urged Congress to renew the President’s Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) before it expires in July.
“With $52 billion in exports, the U.S. semiconductor industry has a huge stake in the global trade system,” said SIA President George Scalise. “The ability of this and future presidents to negotiate trade agreements is vital to the 232,000 people employed in the semiconductor industry in the U.S.”
TPA provides the president with the authority to negotiate trade agreements that open foreign markets, protect intellectual property, and maintain fair trade laws. The Doha Round of World Trade Organization Talks cannot be brought to a successful conclusion without Congressional action. Because our trading partners will be reluctant to negotiate with a U.S. president who does not have TPA., the alternative for many countries will be bilateral and regional trade deals that exclude the United States from their benefits.
"The semiconductor industry advances technology and reduces costs every year, and has enabled new products such as video cell phones and affordable flat panel televisions,” continued Scalise. “TPA allows the president to negotiate agreements that keep up with technological changes, and eliminate trade barriers that impede consumers around the world from benefiting from semiconductor technology advances.”
About the SIA
The SIA is the leading voice for the semiconductor industry and has represented U.S. semiconductor companies since 1977. Collectively, the chip industry employs a domestic workforce of 232,000 people. More information about the SIA can be found at www.sia-online.org.