<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-02/google-amazon-lobbyists-helped-shape-new-trade-framework" class="">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-02/google-amazon-lobbyists-helped-shape-new-trade-framework</a><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;" class="">Google, Amazon Lobbyists Helped US Shape New Indo-Pacific Trade Framework<o:p class=""></o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: inherit;" class="">Elizabeth Warren releases emails between USTR, big tech<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 6pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">By <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/authors/AV2ldHQJhto/emily-birnbaum" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class=""><span style="color: black; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;" class="">Emily Birnbaum</span></a> and <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/authors/AVvaSJbjmc4/leah-nylen" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class=""><span style="color: black; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;" class="">Leah Nylen</span></a><o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">May 2, 2023 at 12:00 PM EDT<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">US trade officials have solicited the advice of lobbyists for <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/AMZN:US" title="Company Overview" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class=""><span style="color: black; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;" class="">Amazon.com Inc.</span></a>, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/GOOGL:US" title="Company Overview" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class=""><span style="color: black; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;" class="">Alphabet Inc.</span></a>’s Google and other major technology companies to help craft the new Indo-Pacific trade framework. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Officials with the US Trade Representative invited Amazon and Google lobbyists early last year to meet personally with Sarah Bianchi, the deputy trade representative, according to emails obtained by Senator Elizabeth Warren and shared with Bloomberg News.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">That gave the companies insight into the confidential talks long before the public knew about the 14-nation economic initiative, known as the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">“We wanted to speak with experts like yourself to get your thoughts and feedback on our Indo-Pacific Economic Framework strategy and to further discuss the digital element of the strategy,” an assistant to Bianchi wrote in an email to Google.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">The emails were obtained by the advocacy group Demand Progress via a public-records request and shared with Warren’s office. Warren’s office issued a <a href="https://www.warren.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/USTR%20REPORT.pdf" target="_blank" title="link to report" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class=""><span style="color: black; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;" class="">report</span></a> on the ties between the big tech companies and USTR as advocates increasingly scrutinize corporate influence over digital trade policy. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">The lobbyists had worked in the Trade Representative’s office.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, said the emails show that the Biden administration’s trade representatives are continuing to coordinate with large tech companies despite President Joe Biden’s promises to make workers and consumers a priority in setting trade policy. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">“Big Tech companies and their army of lobbyists, including former government officials, are secretly trying to undermine President Biden’s trade policy and his committment to promote competition,” Warren said in a statement.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">In a January 2022 email to Amazon, a USTR official requested multiple meetings between Bianchi and Michael Punke and Jennifer Prescott, members of Amazon’s government affairs team and former USTR officials, “to get to know them better.” Punke had been a deputy trade representative and ambassador to the World Trade Organization, while Prescott was an assistant trade Representative for Environment and Natural Resources. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Bianchi’s staff emailed to set up an additional meeting with Amazon lobbyist Arrow Augerot, previously deputy assistant for congressional affairs at USTR, in February. And Bianchi’s staff in February contacted Google Cloud lobbyist Behnaz Kibria, another former USTR official, to request an “off-the-record” meeting to get “feedback” on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">The trade talks are well underway, although the framework has not yet been released to the public. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo is to meet with the Senate Finance Committee behind closed doors later on Tuesday to discuss the trade deal, according to a person familiar with the briefing. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Another round of talks is set to begin next week in Singapore. US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said the negotiations could produce results by the end of the year. The framework is intended to strengthen US trade relationships in the region and represents the most significant American economic engagement since Donald Trump pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership in 2017. Participants include Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and Indonesia. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Progressive lawmakers are concerned that language in the US proposal related to digital trade could undermine artificial intelligence, privacy and competition regulations. In an April 21 letter, Warren and lawmakers in both the House and Senate said the draft could “tie Congress’s and regulators’ hands,” citing how similar language in the US-Canada trade deal has emerged in debates about digital regulations under consideration in Canada. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Countries including Japan, South Korea and Australia have been leaders on regulation related to the tech giants. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">The emails released by Warren’s office on Tuesday reveal close ties between current USTR officials and former officials who left to work at big tech companies. A USTR official in June 2021 asked for Punke’s availability to meet with Tai “in your personal capacity” to discuss “your time in Geneva and how you approached the job.”<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">In July 2021, Tai personally thanked Karan Bhatia, global head of public policy and government affairs for Google, for his “ability to be candid” in a private meeting. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">They also show that USTR reached out to South Korean government officials about legislation intended to pare back the power of <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/AAPL:US" title="Company Overview" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class=""><span style="color: black; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;" class="">Apple Inc.</span></a> and Google’s app stores. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Bhatia in August 2021 emailed Tai about Google’s concerns with the South Korean legislation, adding “we would be grateful for your attention to this issue and for raising those concerns with the Korean government.” Tai wrote back within a few days, agreeing to “touch base with my counterpart(s) in Seoul,” and promising to “make sure we and our teams are in touch with any insights we are able to glean.” <o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;" class="">Understand power in Washington.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Amazon, Google and tech industry-backed groups like the Computer & Communications Industry Association have hired former USTR officials to work on trade policy. Jonathan McHale, a former deputy assistant US trade representative for ICT services and digital trade, was hired by CCIA in June 2022. The year before, McHale told Google lobbyists it would be “good to know what you think the best response would be” to issues that could arise in negotiations with Mexico. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Amazon communicates with officials across the government, said spokeswoman Julia Lawless. “Like many other American companies with significant domestic investments and job creation, we advocate on issues that are important to our customers and our sellers.” <o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">CCIA didn’t comment on any communication with USTR, but President Matt Schruers said that that failing to address “the benefits of the digital economy in IPEF would be a lost opportunity.”<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Google has “very <a href="https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/public-policy/a-framework-for-asias-digital-growth/" target="_blank" title="Click to view webpage." style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class=""><span style="color: black; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;" class="">publicly</span></a> <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/comment/USTR-2022-0002-1178" target="_blank" title="Click to view webpage." style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class=""><span style="color: black; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;" class="">advocated</span></a> for the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework to include strong digital trade provisions that ensure digital technologies are widely accessible, and that support privacy, security, and trust in cross-border data flows,” said spokesman José Castañeda.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""> </span></div></div><div class=""><br class=""><div class="">
Arthur Stamoulis<br class="">Citizens Trade Campaign<br class="">(202) 494-8826<br class=""><br class=""><br class=""><br class="">
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