The U.S. Trade Representative has released the 2012 Special 301 Report, in which it accuses countries of denying “adequate and effective” protection of intellectual property, or discriminating against American companies that rely on intellectual property protection. A short statement accompanying…
Beginning with the 2009 report, the USTR began hosting a public hearing and making small efforts to improve public participation in the Special 301 adjudication process. But, as in the past, the 2012 report shows that USTR largely ignores the…
On April 26, the Subcommittee on Intellectual Property of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on “International Patent Issues: Promoting a Level Playing Field for American Industry Abroad.” Witnesses from industry and academia participated, and each listed what…
Earlier this week, USTR released the 2012 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers, which describes trade barriers in the EU, the Arab League, and 58 countries. The report includes “an inventory of the most important foreign barriers affecting…
Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IP Czar) Victoria Espinel has published the 2011 Annual Report on Intellectual Property Enforcement. The report describes enforcement activities by the Departments of Commerce, Homeland Security, Justice, State, and Health and Human Services, as well as…
PhRMA’s Special 301 comments to the U.S. Trade Representative include a section on the compulsory licensing provisions in India’s Patents Act. PhRMA recommends that “India should ensure that the CL provisions comply with TRIPS by… Eliminating price as a trigger…
On February 29, the PIJIP office submitted several Freedom of Information Act requests to the United States Trade Representative to gather more information on the current procedure for compiling Special 301 Reports. Among them was a general request for…
On Tuesday, the Ukraine initiated a formal trade dispute with Australia through the WTO’s Dispute Settlement System. The Ukraine alleges that Australia’s Plain Packaging Act, which provides that “no trade mark may appear anywhere on a tobacco product” violates TRIPS…
As the U.S. enters a new round of TPP negotiations this week, it is being asked to initiate a formal trade dispute with one of the other countries at the negotiating table. Inside U.S. Trade reports that Senator Hatch has…
On February 23, the Special 301 Committee held its third annual opening hearing as part of its review of foreign countries’ intellectual property policies. The committee was chaired by Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Intellectual Property and Innovation Stan McCoy. …
Good morning. Thank you for having me. I continue to believe that having a public hearing as part of the 301 process is important. My comments today will be in the vein of continuing the trend toward making this a…
The U.S. government has an unfortunate history of pressuring low- and middle-income countries to observe strong intellectual property protection on medicines. This blocks access to generics in countries unable to afford expensive brand name drugs sold by American drug companies. …