The U.S. Trade Representative has published its 2025 National Trade Estimates Report, which annually details foreign trade barriers faced by U.S. exporters. This year's report emphasized the monitoring of digital trade barriers and noted the possibility of action if these become harmful to U.S. technology firms. The emphasis on barriers to U.S. digital exports underscores the importance of maintaining open global markets to enhance U.S. competitiveness and cross-border trade.
The report identified several barriers to U.S. digital exports, including data localization, asymmetric platform regulations, link taxes, and discriminatory taxes or regulations specifically targeting U.S. companies.
In response, the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) had provided comments last fall to the U.S. Trade Representative following its annual request for input on trade barriers affecting U.S. companies abroad. CCIA also recently communicated its priority list of trade barriers to the new Administration and submitted further comments to the USTR to elaborate on these priorities.
CCIA Vice President of Digital Trade, Jonathan McHale, expressed the association's approval of the report, highlighting its detailed review of the challenges U.S. firms face in foreign markets. He stated, "CCIA welcomes USTR’s comprehensive overview of key barriers facing U.S. firms in foreign markets, reinforcing the critical role enforcement plays in ensuring fair market access. The reinstatement of several barriers to U.S. digital exports to this report was particularly noteworthy and helpful. This annual report will serve as a blueprint for both enforcement priorities and identifying negotiating objectives for future agreements to promote the cross-border flow of digital products and services. We look forward to working closely with USTR to advance market access as digital trade is the fastest growing area of trade in services for the United States."