Dreier Applauds Launch of
Entertainment Coalition for Free Trade

March 13, 2003

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman David Dreier (R-CA), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, today participated in a news conference launching the new Entertainment Industry Coalition for Free Trade. The Coalition will be supporting international trade agreements and working for enactment of the Singapore and Chile Free Trade Agreements.

"The entertainment industry produces some of this country's most popular exports," Dreier said. "We may not produce many televisions anymore, but we do provide the world with the highest quality and most popular programming, movies, and music. I'm very pleased the entertainment industry has decided to come together to pursue more trade opportunities for their businesses. They recognize the fact that expanded trade is a win, win, win for American businesses, consumers, and workers."

Dreier pointed to economic statistics that prove the importance of the entertainment industry to global trade. In 2001, the core copyright industries, film, television, and music, accounted for approximately 5.24 percent of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product. The film industry is the only sector that has a positive balance of trade with every trading partner it engages with.

"As we continue the process of negotiating bilateral and multilateral trading rules, it is absolutely key to the continued success of the entertainment industry that we aggressively ensure strong global intellectual property protections," Dreier said.