
<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/2023-05-04/gop-lawmakers-urge-denial-of-tech-lobby-indo-pacific-trade-input#xj4y7vzkg" class="">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-04/gop-lawmakers-urge-denial-of-tech-lobby-indo-pacific-trade-input#xj4y7vzkg</a><br class=""><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 15pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: black; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;" class="">Republican Lawmakers Call for Tech Lobby Be Blocked From Indo-Pacific Trade Input<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></b></div><ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom: 0in; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-top: 0in;" class=""><li class="m_1898643098437567847MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><i class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: inherit;" class="">Tech companies are trying to shape the IPEF trade framework<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></i></li><li class="m_1898643098437567847MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><i class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: inherit;" class="">Letter shows bipartisan concern over tech’s influence on trade<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></i></li></ul><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: inherit; color: black;" class="">By <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/authors/AV2ldHQJhto/emily-birnbaum" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bloomberg.com/authors/AV2ldHQJhto/emily-birnbaum&source=gmail&ust=1683378152890000&usg=AOvVaw1-dNTAg1wzTP7DYAzkFhTO" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);" class=""><span style="color: black; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;" class="">Emily Birnbaum</span></a><u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: black;" class="">May 4, 2023 at 11:00 AM EDT<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: black;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: inherit; color: black;" class="">A group of Republican lawmakers is raising concerns about the biggest tech companies’ influence over the new Indo-Pacific trade framework, marking one of the first signs that the concern is bipartisan. <u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: inherit; color: black;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: inherit; color: black;" class="">The lawmakers, led by Senators JD Vance of Ohio and Josh Hawley of Missouri, in a letter sent on Thursday, urged US trade officials to reject efforts by companies including <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/AMZN:US" title="Company Overview" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/AMZN:US&source=gmail&ust=1683378152890000&usg=AOvVaw1HraTbrxlMro_JS0fCZK0Q" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);" class=""><span style="color: black; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;" class="">Amazon.com Inc.</span></a> and <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/GOOGL:US" title="Company Overview" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/GOOGL:US&source=gmail&ust=1683378152890000&usg=AOvVaw0A5QiKFNmfCGo4fgTuDujU" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);" class=""><span style="color: black; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;" class="">Alphabet Inc.</span></a>’s Google to shape the 14-nation economic initiative, known as the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity, or IPEF. They specifically oppose any language limiting other countries from passing antitrust legislation aimed at paring back the big tech companies’ dominance. <u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: inherit; color: black;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: inherit; color: black;" class="">“The administration must ensure that it does not propose or adopt text in IPEF that binds the United States to competition policies that Congress may soon reject,” they wrote in the letter, which was reviewed by Bloomberg News. Representatives Ken Buck of Colorado and Matt Gaetz of Florida also signed on. <u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: inherit; color: black;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: inherit; color: black;" class="">A growing number of lawmakers are concerned that language in the US proposal related to digital trade could undermine artificial intelligence, privacy and competition regulations. Congress is considering pieces of antitrust legislation that would target the power of Amazon, Google, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/AAPL:US" title="Company Overview" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/AAPL:US&source=gmail&ust=1683378152890000&usg=AOvVaw0rlUYI2Lpb-0v18nk_UGtB" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);" class=""><span style="color: black; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;" class="">Apple Inc.</span></a> and Meta Platforms Inc. <u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: inherit; color: black;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: inherit; color: black;" class="">Democratic lawmakers, including Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, have raised similar issues with the tech industry’s lobbying on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: inherit; color: black;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: inherit; color: black;" class="">Warren’s office <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-02/google-amazon-lobbyists-helped-shape-new-trade-framework" title="Google, Amazon Lobbyists Helped Shape New Trade Framework (1)" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-02/google-amazon-lobbyists-helped-shape-new-trade-framework&source=gmail&ust=1683378152890000&usg=AOvVaw3gZKV08h3cCUqosih3Gzns" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);" class=""><span style="color: black; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;" class="">earlier this week</span></a> released emails showing US trade officials have solicited the advice of lobbyists for Amazon, Google and other major tech companies to help craft the new trade framework. <u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: inherit; color: black;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: inherit; color: black;" class="">A new round of talks on the Indo-Pacific framework is set to begin next week in Singapore. The initiative represents the most significant American economic engagement since former President Donald Trump pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership in 2017. Participants include Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and Indonesia. <u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: inherit; color: black;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: inherit; color: black;" class="">“With antitrust reform gaining momentum on Capitol Hill, the industry has apparently prevailed on the administration to internationalize the issue, in derogation of Congress’s legislative authority to shape domestic competition policy,” the Republican lawmakers wrote in the letter. <u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" class=""><a href="https://www.vance.senate.gov/press-releases/senator-vance-rep-buck-raise-concerns-that-biden-trade-framework-would-expand-big-tech-monopolies/" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.vance.senate.gov/press-releases/senator-vance-rep-buck-raise-concerns-that-biden-trade-framework-would-expand-big-tech-monopolies/&source=gmail&ust=1683378152890000&usg=AOvVaw0QM-wikULvecRuT8hacp8Y" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);" class="">https://www.vance.senate.gov/<wbr class="">press-releases/senator-vance-<wbr class="">rep-buck-raise-concerns-that-<wbr class="">biden-trade-framework-would-<wbr class="">expand-big-tech-monopolies/</a><u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" class="">SENATOR VANCE & REP. BUCK RAISE CONCERNS THAT BIDEN TRADE FRAMEWORK WOULD EXPAND BIG TECH MONOPOLIES<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></b></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 19.2pt; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(241, 241, 241);"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Montserrat; color: black; letter-spacing: 0.45pt;" class=""> <br class="">The letter can be read <a href="https://www.vance.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IPEF-Letter.pdf" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.vance.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IPEF-Letter.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1683378152890000&usg=AOvVaw0PdIsa-sAHtzM5WDETI0aJ" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);" class=""><b class=""><span style="color: blue;" class="">here</span></b></a> and below:<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></p><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(241, 241, 241);" class=""><span style="color: black;" class=""><a href="https://www.vance.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IPEF-Letter.pdf" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.vance.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IPEF-Letter.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1683378152890000&usg=AOvVaw0PdIsa-sAHtzM5WDETI0aJ" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 15pt; font-family: Montserrat; color: blue; letter-spacing: 0.45pt; text-decoration: none;" class=""><img border="0" id="m_1898643098437567847Picture_x0020_1" data-image-whitelisted="" class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" apple-inline="yes" src="cid:A930E184-612D-4199-A86C-992108B983C9@hsd1.pa.comcast.net."></span></b></a></span><span style="font-size: 15pt; font-family: Montserrat; color: black; letter-spacing: 0.45pt;" class=""><u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(241, 241, 241);" class=""><span style="color: black;" class=""><a href="https://www.vance.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IPEF-Letter.pdf" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.vance.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IPEF-Letter.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1683378152890000&usg=AOvVaw0PdIsa-sAHtzM5WDETI0aJ" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 15pt; font-family: Montserrat; color: blue; letter-spacing: 0.45pt; text-decoration: none;" class=""><img border="0" id="m_1898643098437567847Picture_x0020_2" data-image-whitelisted="" class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" apple-inline="yes" src="cid:217648E4-76D6-4B3C-B524-1A53C0317978@hsd1.pa.comcast.net."></span></b></a></span><span style="font-size: 15pt; font-family: Montserrat; color: black; letter-spacing: 0.45pt;" class=""><u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(241, 241, 241);" class=""><span style="color: black;" class=""><a href="https://www.vance.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IPEF-Letter.pdf" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.vance.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IPEF-Letter.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1683378152890000&usg=AOvVaw0PdIsa-sAHtzM5WDETI0aJ" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 15pt; font-family: Montserrat; color: blue; letter-spacing: 0.45pt; text-decoration: none;" class=""><img border="0" id="m_1898643098437567847Picture_x0020_3" data-image-whitelisted="" class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" apple-inline="yes" src="cid:E7FAAF14-947B-4B66-AD2A-3C883DF86036@hsd1.pa.comcast.net."></span></b></a></span><span style="font-size: 15pt; font-family: Montserrat; color: black; letter-spacing: 0.45pt;" class=""><u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin: 0px 0px 19.2pt; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(241, 241, 241);"><span style="font-size: 15pt; font-family: Montserrat; color: black; letter-spacing: 0.45pt;" class="">#<font color="#888888" class=""><u class=""></u><u class=""></u></font></span></p><font color="#888888" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><div style="margin: 0px;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> </span></div></font></div></body></html>