USTR Adds Canada, Colombia to 'Priority Watch List' Over IP Concerns
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative's annual review of countries' intellectual property practices added Canada and Colombia to a "priority watch list," as other countries remained on it, including China, for 12 nations total, one more than in 2017…
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(see 1704280026). Canada remains the only G7 country identified in the "Special 301" report and its "downgrade" is amid "significant concerns" like "poor border and law enforcement with respect to counterfeit or pirated goods" and "deficient copyright protection," USTR reported. "Canada does not provide customs officials with the ability to inspect, detain, seize, and destroy in-transit counterfeit and pirated goods entering Canada destined for the United States." That country's embassy didn't comment to us, nor did that of Colombia or China. China is on the priority watch list for the 14th consecutive year, USTR announced. "Longstanding and new IP concerns merit increased attention, including China’s coercive technology transfer practices, range of impediments to effective IP enforcement, and widespread infringing activity -- including trade secret theft, rampant online piracy, and counterfeit manufacturing."