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 Columbia to a "priority watch list," as other countries remained on it including China, for 12 nations total, one more than 2017 (see 1704280059). Canada remains the only G7 country identified in the "Special 301" report and "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." Canada's embassy didn't comment, nor did that of China or Colombia on Friday. Colombia should work on issues involving ISPs, USTR said. "As online piracy, particularly via mobile devices, continues to grow, Colombian law enforcement authorities with relevant jurisdiction, including the National Police and the Attorney General, have yet to conduct meaningful and sustained investigations and prosecutions against the operators of large pirate websites and mobile applications based in Colombia," it said on IP generally. 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." MPAA CEO Charles Rivkin said "American creators still face significant challenges in foreign markets protecting and enforcing their intellectual property rights, especially in the form of online piracy." The International IP Alliance noted that among 24 countries on the lower-tier "watch list" are "key markets for creators like Brazil, Mexico, Switzerland, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam." Added to the watch list for 2018 were the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan, while Bulgaria was removed, a USTR representative noted. Others reacting favorably to the report were BSA|The Software Alliance and the Entertainment Software Association.