The European Commission and the US Government have agreed on a set of ten fundamental principles for trade in information and communication technology (ICT) services. These principles, agreed under the framework of the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC), will be promoted worldwide in order to support the global development of ICT networks & services and allow service providers to compete for contracts with local incumbents on an equal footing.

Under this new ten fundamental principles for trade in information and communication technology (ICT) services, the EU and US will now promote common principles such as transparency, open networks, flows of cross-border information, non-discriminatory use of local infrastructure, efficient and non-discriminatory use of spectrum, and the like. As highlighted by European Commission Vice-President for the Digital Agenda Neelie Kroes and EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht, they will represent an important milestone in implementing the Commission's Future Trade Policy Communication as well as an important part of Europe's Digital Agenda.

The ten principles will support EU and US efforts to raise the profile of ICT services in bilateral agreements as well as in the World Trade Organization (WTO). Cooperation between the EU and the US in the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC) has been instrumental in achieving this outcome.

EU-US Trade Principles for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Services

1. Transparency of rules affecting trade in ICT and ICT services
2. Open networks for consumers to access and distribute information, applications and services of their choice
3. Cross-border flows of information
4. No requirement to use local infrastructure for ICT services
5. Governments should allow full foreign participation in their ICT services sector, through establishment or other means
6. Efficient and maximised use of radio spectrum
7. Independence of regulatory authorities overseeing ICT services
8. Simple authorisation of competitive telecommunications services
9. ICT service suppliers must have the right to interconnect with other service providers for access to publicly available telecommunications networks and services
10. International cooperation with a view to increasing the level of digital literacy in third countries and reducing the 'digital divide'

The aim of this principles, as stressed by Commissioner Kroes, is to help to ensure that trade rules are used as an effective tool to open up ICT markets worldwide to the benefit of all businesses and consumers. Furthermore, Commissioner De Gucht said, they are an excellent example to demonstrate the important role the TEC can play in bringing transatlantic convergence activities to a higher political level.

The EU and the US intend to cooperate with third countries to enhance national regulatory capacity and support the global development of ICT networks and services. Implementation of these principles by countries worldwide would not only allow European and US companies to benefit from much better commercial opportunities, but also allow the people living in these countries to benefit from lower and more competitive prices for ICT services, and to enjoy access to a wider range of technologies.