That Other Big Report

Digital provisions in the revamped trade agreement among the US, Mexico and Canada will give the US economy a modest boost, with the technology and telecommunications sectors being the biggest beneficiaries, according to an independent analysis from the US International Trade Commission. The report, a key step before Congress votes on the deal, echoes several points tech lobbyists have long argued. Jordan Haas, the Internet Association’s trade policy director, urged Congress to quickly pass the deal. “USMCA includes first-of-its-kind digital rules of the road that are critical to America’s future economic success,” he said in a statement.

The ITC report concludes, for instance, that rules requiring data to flow freely across borders will reduce costs and complications for global companies, even those outside the tech and telecom sectors. Internet companies will also benefit from a provision giving them legal immunity for user content on their platforms, though it notes that the music and movie industries, among others, oppose such protections. What’s more, modest increases to the de minimis threshold for goods shipped across borders will cause US e-commerce sales to rise by $332 million to Canada and $91 million to Mexico, according to the analysis. Tech industry advocates hope the deal becomes a model for future trade agreements.