4 August 1997, ComputerWorld: Report/ Encryption policy hurts trade U.S. controls on the export of encryption technology and telecommunications equipment represent significant barriers to international trade, the European Commission said in a report last week. The development of digital communications has prompted the need for improved protection against the unauthorized use of personal data, trade secrets, banking information and databases. Without that protection, it is unlikely that electronic commerce will take off, said one European Commission official. The commission's 13th annual ``Report on United States Barriers to Trade and Investment'' said the U.S. is the dominant supplier of key computing components, and the country's limitations on the export of strong encryption products hurts the growth of electronic commerce. ---------- Anyone with a URL for this report? The EC site is uncrackably multi-lingual otiose.