In short, these industries represent the leading edge of the world's high technology, entertainment and publishing industries and are among the fastest growing and largest segments of the U.S. economy. The goal of the FTAA negotiations is to eliminate trade barriers in the Hemisphere by 2005.
Enforcement is a top priority.
While the economic harm caused by copyright piracy in this region is daunting, the possibility for growth both in terms of foreign investment and local economic development is high. Let me turn to the economic impact of copyright piracy in this Hemisphere. The Economic Impact of Copyright Piracy in the Americas Latin America represents the second largest trading region for the United States. Here in the U.S., the copyright-based industry is this nation's third largest industry in foreign sales and exports. Every nation in this Hemisphere has an interest in nurturing the economic development of its local copyright industries.