Annual Special 301 Report

• India continues to be on the ‘Priority Watch List’ of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) for lack of adequate intellectual property (IP) rights protection and enforcement, the USTR said in its Annual Special 301 Report.

About:

• The Special 301 Report is prepared annually by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) that identifies trade barriers to United States companies and products due to the intellectual property laws, such as copyright, patents, and trademarks, in other countries.

• The Special 301 Report is published pursuant to Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 as amended by Section 1303 of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988.

• The Special 301 Report was first published in 1989.

Key highlights:

• India remained one of the most challenging economies for IP enforcement and protection, the report said, using the language it has used previously.

• Algeria, Argentina, Chile, China, Indonesia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, and Venezuela are also on the Priority Watch List.

• India made “meaningful progress” to enhance IP protection and enforcement in some areas over the past year, it did not resolve recent and long-standing challenges, and created new ones.

• The report also mentioned high customs duties on medical devices and Information and Communications Technology.