The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) is investigating the role of digital trade in the U.S. and global economies.   According to the ITC, the reports will contain the following items:

The first report, Digital Trade in the U.S. and Global Economies, Part I, will:

• describe U.S. digital trade in the context of the broader economy;

• examine cross-border digital trade and its relationship to other cross-border transactions (e.g., foreign direct investment);

• describe notable barriers and impediments to digital trade; and

• outline potential approaches for assessing the linkages and contributions of digital trade to the U.S. economy, noting any challenges associated with data gaps and limitations.

The second report will build on the first report to:

• estimate the value of U.S. digital trade and the potential growth of this trade;

• examine the broader linkages and contributions of digital trade to the U.S. economy;

• present case studies that examine the importance of digital trade to selected U.S. industries that use or produce such goods and services; and

• examine the effect of notable barriers to digital trade on selected industries and the broader U.S. economy.

A public hearing in connection with these investigations will be held on March 7, 2013.  Requests to appear at the hearing must be filed by February 21, 2013.   The public is also invited to provide written submissions which are due March 14, 2013.