WASHINGTON – A trade association representing more than 50 major tech hardware and software OEMs took aim today at President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the US from the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement.

The Information Technology Industry Council, which represents Amazon, HOP, Dell, Google and variety of other large players, issued a press release titled "Tech Disappointed in Trump Decision on TPP Trade Agreement."

“There is no prospect for job creation and economic growth for the United States without an active trade agenda,” said the letter, quoting ITI CEO and president Dean Garfield.

Despite the headline, Garfield's remarks struck a more level tone: “At the same time, we can’t ignore the fact that many trade agreements were struck in an era that predates the Internet and the global economy, which depends on data flowing freely across borders for people and businesses to sell goods and services anywhere in the world. We can — and should — improve trade agreements to reflect the critical role digital trade plays in growing our economy and to help tech goods and services compete more fairly overseas. We are ready to work with the new administration to advance beneficial trade deals for our nation.”

ITI has been a strong advocate for the TPP. While US technology companies exported $10 billion in goods and services to TPP markets in 2014, they faced stiff tariffs of up to 35%, and have encountered restrictions and barriers in accessing markets covered by the agreement.

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