USTR Special 301 Subcommittee to Host Public Hearing in February

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is requesting written submissions from the public by Feb. 9 concerning foreign countries that “deny adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights” or deny fair market access to U.S. citizens who rely on intellectual property protection, USTR said (here). In advance of a Feb. 28 public hearing to be hosted by the interagency Special 301 Subcommittee, USTR is asking that the public identify actions that might implicate a particular trading partner as a priority foreign country. Foreign governments will have until Feb. 23 to submit written comments, notices of intent to testify at the hearing, and any prepared hearing statements. USTR plans to publish the National Trade Estimate, then the 2017 Special 301 Report, on or close to April 30.