Countries Reach ITA Expansion Deal After Compromise On 'Critical Mass'

NAIROBI, Kenya -- The 24 economies negotiating an expanded Information Technology Agreement (ITA) here on Wednesday (Dec. 16) reached a final deal after trading partners approved China's final tariff schedule and agreed to non-binding compromise language addressing China's worries over the “critical mass” issue. The final ITA declaration -- which on Wednesday evening here had not yet been released -- would commit members to hold discussions in the future if the membership of the plurilateral agreement no longer represents a...