USTR Asks for Comments on 2015 Special 301 IPR Review
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is asking for comments to put together its annual Special 301 review. The review identifies the level of intellectual property rights protection globally, broken down by country and degree of protection. IPR violators are placed on the Special 301 Watch List and Priority Watch List. USTR also can label a country a Priority Foreign Country, the most severe classification of an IPR violator. The agency chose to not give India that label in the 2014 Special 301 review, despite pressure from the pharmaceutical industry (see 1410140100). The following are important deadlines for the review, as outlined by USTR:
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- Feb. 6: Deadline for interested parties, except foreign governments, to submit written comments, notice of intent to testify at the Special 301 Public Hearing, and hearing statements.
- Feb. 13: Deadline for foreign governments to submit written comments, notice of intent to testify at the Special 301 Public Hearing, and, although not mandatory, any prepared hearing statements.
- Feb. 24: Public Hearing - The Special 301 Subcommittee will hold a public hearing for interested parties, including representatives of foreign governments, at the offices of the International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC. No later than Feb. 20, USTR will confirm the date and location of the hearing.
- Feb. 27: Deadline for submitting post-hearing written comments. Interested parties may provide written comments after the hearing. To ensure consideration, comments must be received no later than Friday, Feb. 27. Please submit additional written comments electronically via www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR-2014-0025.
- On or about April 30: USTR will publish the 2015 Special 301 Report within 30 days of the publication of the National Trade Estimate Report.
(Federal Register 12/29/14)