Working to increase IT trade
Last updated: 08/01/2013 //
Norway is currently one of 17 countries taking part in active discussions at the WTO in order to increase trade in IT products. The discussions aim at increasing the product coverage for products traded under the zero tariff IT Agreement. The IT Agreement, the ITA, is a 15 year old agreement between 70 Members of the WTO.
The aim now is to increase the number of products that are traded at zero tariff under the Agreement.
The discussions started in the spring of 2012 with a handful of countries who worked out a list of products that could potentially be covered by the updated Agreement. This list has been built upon and revised during the discussions as more members have joined the talks. The list is referred to as a consolidated working list and it represents the total wish-list of the members taking part, and it is not an agreed list. In fact, within the working group there are diverging views with regards to the level of ambition as well as what kind of products should be covered and which should not.
Norway is working to include some products of interest to us and in particular products related to navigation and surveying. The work will intensify in 2013 with monthly week-long meetings in Geneva, aiming for a swift conclusion of the negotiations.
Read more about the ITA on the WTO homepage