Barshefsky: US Seeks Broad Info Technology Pact

WASHINGTON - With the backing of Asia-Pacific leaders in hand, the United States is looking for a global information technology agreement that covers a wide range of products, Acting U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky said.

"We're looking to achieve a pretty ambitious product scope," she told reporters after returning from a meeting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders in the Philippines.

She expressed confidence that negotiators in Geneva will be able to resolve differences on what products will be covered by the proposed agreement by the time World Trade Organization ministers gather in Singapore in early December.

Barshefsky said the negotiations in Geneva have hit a few snags. She said a proposal by the European Union to exclude computer software that has an audio or video component to it was a "non starter."

A major aim of the United States in a pact to eliminate tariffs on computers, semiconductors, software and telecommunications equipment by 2000 was to achieve lower import duties on those products in Europe, Barshefsky said.

She said that is why Europe has been "schizophrenic" about the proposed information technology agreement, with some manufacturers wanting to lower the cost of their imported components but yet protect their markets from unwanted competition.

Barshefsky said APEC's backing of the agreement was important for its success at the upcoming WTO meeting.

A successful information technology agreement will also help give APEC a boost in confidence that could speed up the process of opening markets, she said.

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