October 7, 1998
News Release 98-073
GLOBAL ISSUES AFFECTING U.S.
INDUSTRIES
AND THE TECHNOLOGICAL COMPETITIVENESS OF THE UNITED STATES
ARE FOCUS OF ITC QUARTERLY
PUBLICATION
Internet advertising, global professional service providers, and
the electric power industry are
among the topics explored in the current issue of Industry,
Trade, and Technology Review
(ITTR), a quarterly publication of the U.S. International
Trade Commission's Office of
Industries.
Industry, Trade, and Technology Review (ITTR) contains
articles originating from research
and analysis conducted by International Trade Commission (ITC)
staff as part of its
responsibilities to provide advice and technical information on
industry and trade issues. The
ITTR provides analysis of important issues and insights
into the global position of U.S.
industries, the technological competitiveness of the United
States, and implications of trade
and policy developments.
The ITTR is a publication of the Office of Industries.
The opinions and conclusions it
contains are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect
the views of the Commission
or of any individual Commissioner.
The current issue (September 1998) includes the following
articles:
- Internet Advertising -- Firms that
advertise on the Internet face unique opportunities
and concerns resulting from the global reach, technological
capabilities, and the recent
advent of this medium. Since the first advertisements
appeared on the Internet in
1994, associated advertising revenues have increased
rapidly, reaching between $597
million and $940 million in 1997. This article defines
Internet advertising; presents
issues, opportunities, and problems that currently affect
market conditions for online
advertising; discusses U.S. and foreign participation and
competitiveness in this
market; and briefly assesses the future prospects of
Internet advertising.
- Progress in Recognizing and Regulating Global Service
Providers -- Trade in
business, professional, and technical services has risen
substantially in recent years,
propelled by the globalization of manufacturing and
services. Multilateral efforts are
underway to assist regulatory bodies in ensuring that new
disciplines do not
discriminate against global professional service providers
or unnecessarily restrain
market access. This article examines recent efforts
undertaken by the World Trade
Organization and similar organizations to improve
opportunities for trade in
professional services.
- Deregulation Fosters Globalization of the Electric
Power Industry -- The electric
power industry, a major infrastructure service industry, is
undergoing major change
as governments restructure their regulatory systems to
introduce competition, divest
government assets, drive down costs, and improve service
quality. These efforts are
likely to have profound effects on consumers, investors, and
governments. This
article examines how such restructuring fosters growth in
foreign direct investment,
encourages the development of global competition among
leading firms, and presents
new issues that may need to be addressed in a global forum
such as the World Trade
Organization.
In addition, the publication includes an appendix charting key
performance indicators for the
steel, automobile, aluminum, flat glass, and services
industries.
Industry, Trade, and Technology Review (USITC
Publication 3134, September 1998) will be
posted on the ITC's Internet server at www.usitc.gov. A
cumulative list of articles
published in the report series is also posted. The ITTR
will also be available at regional
federal depository libraries in the United States. To request a
printed copy of the ITTR or to
be added to the mailing list, contact the Office of the
Secretary, U.S. International Trade
Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington DC 20436. Requests may
also be faxed to 202-205-2104.
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