Executive Director, International Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Published
March 19, 2024
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The digital revolution is delivering substantial benefits for the U.S. economy, driving growth, prosperity, and dynamism across every state and congressional district. For decades, American innovation has positioned the U.S. as the global leader in the digital economy, and the digital revolution means that U.S. exports increasingly rely on digital trade. America needs strong digital trade rules that:
Open international markets for American service providers, manufacturers, and agri-businesses to export an ever-increasing number of digitally enabled goods and services.
Facilitate data flows, the lifeblood of the digital economy.
Protect intellectual property embedded in digital goods and services.
Prevent discriminatory treatment of American companies in foreign markets.
However, an abrupt policy change by the Biden administration has undermined American leadership on digital trade and is threatening the continued success of U.S. firms large and small.
Prosperity at Risk
In October 2023, USTR announced it was withdrawing its support for digital trade rules—previously endorsed on a strong bipartisan basis by Congress. USTR seems to have been hijacked by radical voices advocating that digital trade rules only benefit big technology firms and will get in the way of Congress’s ability to regulate things like privacy. Nothing could be further from the truth. Digital trade rules advance America’s ability to ensure a diverse range of firms of all sizes can reach customers in countries around the world. These rules protect American digitally enabled exports from discriminatory treatment and prevent U.S. cutting edge technologies from being stolen in foreign markets.
Broad Bipartisan Support
Further, trade rules have never prevented Congress from passing new laws and regulations, including those that could be needed in the future to address emerging technologies like AI. Most recently, Congress reaffirmed this when it passed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which includes strong digital trade provisions, with 90% of the House and Senate voting in favor. Nearly two-thirds of the digital economy consists of digital services, not digital goods. The digital economy is expanding nearly three times as rapidly as the economy writ large. In short, digitally enabled products and services are not confined to a handful of “big” companies, let alone the “tech” sector.
3 Million American Jobs
The digital economy has become critical to the U.S. economy, driving growth and creating high-paying jobs. In fact, digital trade exports supported more than 3 million direct and indirect U.S. jobs in 2022. Select a state and district below to discover the impact.
The Impacts of Digital Trade Across America
Select a state to see how digital trade affects America's communities
13,773
Alabama’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$3,116,349,072
Alabama’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
36%
Alabama’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
1,076
Alaska’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$186,421,942
Alaska’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
-18%
Alaska’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
46,402
Arizona’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$9,578,135,285
Arizona’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
94%
Arizona’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
5,863
Arkansas’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$1,315,629,059
Arkansas’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
144%
Arkansas’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
655,128
California’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$142,675,841,902
California’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
64%
California’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
60,975
Colorado’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$11,940,068,855
Colorado’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
51%
Colorado’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
52,368
Connecticut’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$11,868,364,510
Connecticut’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
33%
Connecticut’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
13,261
Delaware’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$3,556,131,844
Delaware’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
41%
Delaware’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
33,760
District of Columbia’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$6,487,481,841
District of Columbia’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
71%
District of Columbia’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
144,292
Florida’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$24,691,418,178
Florida’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
105%
Florida’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
84,387
Georgia’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$17,942,641,247
Georgia’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
68%
Georgia’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
3,445
Hawaii’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$595,162,101
Hawaii’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
80%
Hawaii’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
6,640
Idaho’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$1,318,433,484
Idaho’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
85%
Idaho’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
141,623
Illinois’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$28,253,316,883
Illinois’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
65%
Illinois’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
29,438
Indiana’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$6,307,672,548
Indiana’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
29%
Indiana’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
14,767
Iowa’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$3,504,423,862
Iowa’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
48%
Iowa’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
15,451
Kansas’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$2,854,372,152
Kansas’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
62%
Kansas’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
9,911
Kentucky’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$1,989,809,083
Kentucky’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
45%
Kentucky’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
12,682
Louisiana’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$2,674,209,376
Louisiana’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
6%
Louisiana’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
5,186
Maine’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$1,023,097,255
Maine’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
125%
Maine’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
63,079
Maryland’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$12,134,807,835
Maryland’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
62%
Maryland’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
145,541
Massachusetts’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$32,112,594,301
Massachusetts’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
47%
Massachusetts’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
40,266
Michigan’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$7,754,160,297
Michigan’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
36%
Michigan’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
44,392
Minnesota’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$9,319,222,403
Minnesota’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
43%
Minnesota’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
3,520
Mississippi’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$782,954,337
Mississippi’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
27%
Mississippi’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
34,926
Missouri’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$7,534,693,314
Missouri’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
56%
Missouri’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
3,155
Montana’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$595,266,296
Montana’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
119%
Montana’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
8,278
Nebraska’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$1,813,995,896
Nebraska’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
45%
Nebraska’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
11,295
Nevada’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$2,053,970,492
Nevada’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
69%
Nevada’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
14,237
New Hampshire’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$2,719,461,920
New Hampshire’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
54%
New Hampshire’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
99,704
New Jersey’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$18,969,084,938
New Jersey’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
52%
New Jersey’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
6,911
New Mexico’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$1,378,521,127
New Mexico’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
58%
New Mexico’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
392,735
New York’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$95,027,594,168
New York’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
50%
New York’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
94,187
North Carolina’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$20,699,023,222
North Carolina’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
80%
North Carolina’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
1,362
North Dakota’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$378,642,686
North Dakota’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
22%
North Dakota’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
66,903
Ohio’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$15,455,194,440
Ohio’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
96%
Ohio’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
6,860
Oklahoma’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$1,255,710,822
Oklahoma’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
63%
Oklahoma’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
24,836
Oregon’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$5,548,808,144
Oregon’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
49%
Oregon’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
81,113
Pennsylvania’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$17,582,048,454
Pennsylvania’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
44%
Pennsylvania’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
5,273
Rhode Island’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$1,074,479,416
Rhode Island’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
24%
Rhode Island’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
16,550
South Carolina’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$3,125,557,541
South Carolina’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
70%
South Carolina’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
4,801
South Dakota’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$1,318,612,761
South Dakota’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
58%
South Dakota’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
44,623
Tennessee’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$7,876,373,113
Tennessee’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
122%
Tennessee’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
228,228
Texas’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$43,321,703,797
Texas’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
68%
Texas’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
28,350
Utah’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$6,557,579,154
Utah’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
104%
Utah’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
3,916
Vermont’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$668,540,259
Vermont’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
71%
Vermont’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
92,522
Virginia’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$16,492,793,382
Virginia’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
84%
Virginia’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
97,216
Washington’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$25,385,446,224
Washington’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
37%
Washington’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
2,338
West Virginia’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$459,119,701
West Virginia’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
13%
West Virginia’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
21,675
Wisconsin’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$5,202,582,787
Wisconsin’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
31%
Wisconsin’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
931
Wyoming’s jobs dependent upon digitally tradable exports, 2022.
$175,476,294
Wyoming’s digitally tradable exports, 2022.
112.00%
Wyoming’s growth in digitally tradable exports, 2013-2022.
Data source: Trade Partnership Worldwide’s CDxports database
Jordan Heiber leads the Chamber’s international privacy and data flow policy portfolio and manages a team responsible for the full suite of digital policy issues, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and more.
Isabelle Icso, executive director of international policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, advocates for the Chamber’s international trade and investment priorities before the administration, Congress, and foreign governments.
