Change In Public Policy

The traditional method for creating U.S. trade and technology policy no longer works. Too often, government policies fail to reflect:

• the rapid evolution of our technology and products;

• the competitive advantage we gain from having access to the best research, technology, and products worldwide; and

• the constant changes in the global marketplace.

For example, certain antiquated export control laws currently define certain desktop computers as "supercomputems." As such, they are subject to severe export restrictions even though they perform at less than 1% of the speed and capacity of real supercomputers.

These restrictions serve only to hurt U.S. high technology exports, jeopardize future investment, and give a boost to foreign competitors who are not subject to these restrictions.

U.S. public policy must change to meet the realities of the global marketplace effectively.

President Clinton has declared that his job as President is "to adjust America so we can enter the 2lst century." The Administration can begin by working with industry and the Congress on a new framework for public policy that will help America's leading industries preserve their competitive edge. CSPP believes the new framework must:

• harmonize trade and technology policies;

• be based on the realities of maintaining a competitive business in the modern global economy; and

• keep pace with rapid technological advancements.

Quote -- John F. Carlson, Chairman and CEO, Cray Research -- "When a foreign country can build its supercomputer system faster than our government can approve an export license, we have a real problem." Quote -- James A. Unruh, Chairman & CEO, Unisys -- "The process for revising and changing export control levels must be streamlined -- it now is considerably longer than the life cycle of many of today's products.

Change / Work Force Recommendations