[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 89 (Monday, May 8, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 26652]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-11341]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Identification of Countries That Deny Adequate Protection, or 
Market Access, for Intellectual Property Rights Under Section 182 of 
the Trade Act of 1974

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the United States Trade 
Representative (USTR) has submitted its annual report on the 
identification of those foreign countries that deny adequate and 
effective protection of intellectual property rights or deny fair and 
equitable market access to United States persons that rely upon 
intellectual property protection, and those foreign countries 
determined to be priority foreign countries, to the Committee on 
Finance of the United States Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means 
of the United States House of Representatives, pursuant to section 182 
of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (the Trade Act) (19 U.S.C. 2242).

DATES: This report was submitted on April 28, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 17th 
Street, NW, Washington, DC 20508.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Claude Burcky, Deputy Assistant U.S. 
Trade Representative for Intellectual Property, (202) 395-6864, Donna 
DiPaolo, Director for Intellectual Property, (202) 395-6864, or Stephen 
Kho, Assistant General Counsel, (202) 395-3581.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 182 of the Trade Act requires USTR 
to identify within 30 days of the publication of the National Trade 
Estimates Report all trading partners that deny adequate and effective 
protection of intellectual property rights or deny fair and equitable 
market access to United States persons that rely upon intellectual 
property protection. Those countries that have the most onerous or 
egregious acts, policies, or practices that have the greatest adverse 
impact (actual or potential) on the relevant United States products 
must be identified as ``priority foreign countries,'' unless they are 
entering into good faith negotiations or are making significant 
progress in bilateral or multilateral negotiations to provide adequate 
and effective protection for intellectual property rights. In 
identifying countries in this manner, the USTR is directed to take into 
account the history of intellectual property laws and practices of the 
foreign country, including any previous identifications as a priority 
foreign country, and the history of efforts of the United States, and 
the response of the foreign country, to achieve adequate and effective 
protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights. In making 
these determinations, the USTR must consult with the Register of 
Copyrights, the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks, and other 
appropriate officials of the Federal Government and take into account 
information from other sources, such as information submitted by 
interested persons.
    On April 28, 2000, USTR identified 59 trading partners that deny 
adequate and effective protection of intellectual property or deny fair 
and equitable market access to United States artists and industries 
that rely upon intellectual property protection. USTR identified 
Ukraine for potential Priority Foreign Country designation on August 1, 
2000. USTR again designated Paraguay and China for ``Section 306 
monitoring'' to ensure both countries comply with the commitments made 
to the United States under bilateral intellectual property agreements.
    USTR announced placement of 16 trading partners on the ``Priority 
Watch List'': Argentina, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, the European 
Union, Greece, Guatemala, India, Israel, Italy, Korea, Malaysia, Peru, 
Poland, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine. USTR placed 39 trading partners on 
the ``Watch List.'' Countries that were not mentioned in the report 
last year but are on the Watch List this year include: Armenia, 
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Tajikistan, 
Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. In addition, out-of-cycle reviews will be 
conducted of Italy in September, and Korea and Macau in December 2000. 
While El Salvador and the West Bank and Gaza are not listed, USTR will 
also conduct out-of-cycle reviews of each in September and December 
2000, respectively. Finally, the USTR announced the initiation of WTO 
dispute settlement cases against Argentina and Brazil, and that it will 
take the next step in our dispute with Denmark and request the 
establishment of a WTO panel unless imminent progress is made.

P. Claude Burcky,
Director of Intellectual Property.
[FR Doc. 00-11341 Filed 5-5-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M