The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) has officially filed comments with the United States Trade Representative (USTR) supporting a proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement, which includes countries Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.

"The Asia-Pacific region is the largest telecommunications market in the world and holds tremendous opportunity for growth," remarked Grant Seiffert, TIA President. "TIA supports a free trade agreement with the TPP countries and would like to see USTR build upon its efforts in the future and extend it to include other countries in the region."

In the filing, TIA specifically urges the TPP to include commitments by countries to sign the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Information Technology and Government Procurement Agreements and establish an independent telecommunications regulator, if one does not exist. TIA also encourages TPP countries to establish Mutual Recognition Agreements under the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) framework. Supporting the inclusion of these market-oriented, technology-neutral principles in the final agreement will help build a strong, global, digital economy based on quality infrastructure, network of services, and a solid legal and commercial framework. TIA's Trans-Pacific Partnership submission is available on its USTR filings page.