Tech and computer groups are praising what the White House was billing as progress on digital trade issues in U.S./Japan trade talks. 

The White House announced Wednesday (Sept. 25) that the President and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had reached agreements to "rebalance" their trade relationship, including "robust commitments on digital trade, which will greatly expand commerce across our modern industries."  

The agreed-upon provisions include: 

1. "Prohibitions on imposing customs duties on digital products transmitted electronically such as videos, music, e-books, software, and games. 

2. "Ensuring non-discriminatory treatment of digital products, including coverage of tax measures. 

3. "Ensuring barrier-free cross-border data transfers in all sectors.

4. "Prohibiting data localization requirements, including for financial service suppliers. 

5. "Prohibiting arbitrary access to computer source code and algorithms. 

6. "Ensuring firms’ flexibility to use innovative encryption technology in their products." 

That was enough to draw hopeful comments from tech groups looking for good news out of an otherwise tariff-focused Administration. 

“This is a good first step," said CCIA president/CEO Ed Black. "In the future, a comprehensive U.S.-Japan trade agreement would help to partially fill the void left by the U.S. withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. We would encourage countries to continue dialogue as the two parties work towards a comprehensive trade agreement with strongly enforceable digital protections.” 

“Japan and the United States are strong allies and recognized leaders in digital technology and innovation. We applaud both governments for reaching preliminary agreement on provisions that reflect state-of-the-art rules for facilitating digital trade in the 21st century,” said Sam Rizzo, director of policy for global tech group ITI. “In addition to the benefits it provides for businesses and consumers in both markets, this first-stage agreement represents a positive step toward solidifying international norms that ensure that global markets remain fair, open, and competitive in the modern economy. We appreciate the work undertaken by the United States and Japan to this point and encourage both sides to continue progress toward an agreement that is comprehensive, subject to dispute settlement, and representative of the deep economic ties between both countries.” 

The USA-Japan Women’s World Cup soccer telecast Sunday night finished as the most watched soccer game in U.S. television history.

Fox’s 25.4 million viewers for the game -- in which team USA defeated Japan 5-2 to capture its third Women’s World Cup title -- combined with the 1.27 million viewers watching the game on Spanish-language channel Telemundo drew 26.7 million TV viewers. That was more than the 26.5 million who watched the 2014 World Cup final between Germany and Argentina on ABC and Univision, according to reports.

Fox's 25.4 million viewers was the most watched women's soccer game ever, besting the 17.9 million viewers pulled in by the 1999 USA-China Women’s World Cup final, according to Fox officials.

It is also the most-watched English-language soccer match in U.S. history, easily spiking the previous mark of 18.2 million set by USA-Portugal during last year’s World Cup group stage match.

Telemundo's 1.27 million total viewers for the match was the most watched Spanish-language U.S. soccer broadcast ever, up 97% vs. the 2011 U.S. Spanish-language broadcast of the final, according to Nielsen.

The USA-Japan telecast compares favorably with other major sports events this year. Last night’s match average audience exceeded every game of the NBA Finals, the 2014-15 broadcast season average of every show in primetime, including Sunday Night Football, and the primetime average of the Sochi Olympic Winter Games, according to Fox.

Last night’s match also delivered the most-watched telecast since the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament championship game on CBS, which posted 28.3 million viewers this past April.

On the web, FOX Sports GO set a new record with 232,000 unique streamers, the largest authenticated streaming audience in FOX Sports GO history. That bested the previous mark set by the USA-Germany semifinal (166,000 unique streamers).  Women’s World Cup matches now comprise FOX Sports GO’s top 5 most-viewed events ever, according to the company.  

More details from a Fox release: 

Viewing on Fox peaked between 8:30 and 8:45 p.m. ET with 30.9 million viewers. The match topped the 2011 Women's World Cup Final game -- also featuring USA vs. Japan (which won on penalty kicks) -- by 89% (13.5 million). And 43.2 million viewers watched all or part of the match.

Fox's coverage of the team USA's triumphant Women's World Cup tournament win Sunday posted a record 15.2/27 metered market household rating/share, according to Nielsen.

The telecast, in which the USA team defeated Japan for the title, surpassed the previous mark of 13.3 rating set by the 1999 USA-China Women's World Cup final, according to network officials.

The match rating was up 77% over the 8.6 rating recorded by ESPN for the USA vs. Japan Women’s World Cup final in 2011, according to Fox.

The draw for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup will unfold in Ottawa this Saturday and the U.S. rights-holders to the tourney will provide extensive coverage of the group selections.

Spanish-language broadcaster Telemundo and its cable cousin mun 2 will simulcast the draw on Dec. 6 at noon (ET), while Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2 are also in the game. Distaff futbol fans can also keep abreast of the picks on Deportes Telemundo En Vivo Extra App and via the authenticated Fox Sports GO platform.

During the ceremony at the Canadian Museum of History, the 24 teams will be selected into six groups of four sides. Host nation Canada, the U.S., FIFA's top-ranked team, No. 2 Germany and defending champion Japan, which currently holds down the third position, are expected to head four of the groupings.

In addition to Canada and the U.S., CONCACAF has two other representatives: Mexico and Costa Rica, while South America’s CONMEBOL has Colombia, Brazil and Ecuador. Europe has seven other sides besides the Germans: Norway, Sweden, England, France, Switzerland, Spain and Holland. Africa has three entries, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Cameroon, while Australia and New Zealand emerged from Oceania.  Japan, along with China, Korea Republic and Thailand, comprise the Asian contingent.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 will play out across six host cities: Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal and Moncton, kicking off Saturday, June 6 and ending with the championship match on July 5. 

Telemundo’s coverage will be led by legendary sportscaster Andrés Cantor, in concert with Jessi Losada, three-time top Mexican scorer Carlos Hermosillo, and former Chivas de Guadalajara player Manuel Sol. Veteran commentator Sammy Sadovnik and Ritmo Deportivo host Leti Coo will report from Canada.

Deportes Telemundo’s coverage will include profiles on top women’s players from around the globe, as well as interviews with Hispanic players and coaches from some of the leading Latin American teams, including Leonardo Cuéllar, a recent inductee into the World Soccer Hall of Fame, and the coach, with his son, of the Mexican national women’s team.  

Rob Stone is the face on the Fox flank from Los Angeles, anchoring FS1’s hour-long show, which will mark the first time since the tourney was held Stateside in 1999 that the women’s draw will be televised in this nation in English.

Sky Sports correspondent Kate Abdo will be on the scene north of the border, where she will work with three-time Olympic gold medalist and retired U.S. team defender Heather Mitts; Ariane Hingst, a two-time World Cup champ with Germany; Kelly Smith, England’s all time national team goal-scorer; and Tony DiCicco, the head coach of the 1999 U.S. World Cup champions.   

Fox Sports soccer insider and Sports Illustrated senior columnist Grant Wahl will provide analysis and get the post-draw reaction from current U.S. head coach Jill Ellis in Canada.