[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 94 (Friday, May 14, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 26917]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10958]



[[Page 26917]]

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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.

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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 May 3, 2004.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Peck, Senior Director for 
Intellectual Property, at (202) 395-6864, or Stan McCoy, Assistant 
General Counsel, or Dan Mullaney, Associate General Counsel, at (202) 
395-7305.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 182 of the Trade Act requires USTR 
to identify within 30 days of the publication of the National Trade 
Estimate Report all trading partners that deny adequate and effective 
protection of intellectual property rights or deny fair and equitable 
market access to U.S. persons who rely on 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 U.S. products are to 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 must take into account 
information from other sources such as information submitted by 
interested persons.
    On May 3, 2004, USTR identified 52 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 maintained 
Ukraine's designation as a Priority Foreign Country, and 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 also announced placement of 15 trading partners on the 
Priority Watch List: Argentina, the Bahamas, Brazil, Egypt, the 
European Union, India, Indonesia, Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, the 
Philippines, Russia, Taiwan, and Turkey. In addition, USTR placed 34 
trading partners on the Watch List. USTR will conduct out-of-cycle 
reviews of China, Israel, Malaysia, Poland and Taiwan.

Brian Peck,
Senior Director for Intellectual Property.
[FR Doc. 04-10958 Filed 5-13-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W4-P