USTR SPECIAL REPORT 301

Why in news?

Recently, the United State’s USTR Special 301 Report has again included India in the ‘Priority Watch List’ (PWL) of countries, along with China, Russia, Venezuela, and three others due to concerns about Intellectual Property (IP) protection and enforcement.

What is the USTR’s Special 301 Report?

About:

Mandated by Section 182 of the US Trade Act of 1974, it is an annual review conducted to assess the adequacy and effectiveness of US trading partners’ IP protection and enforcement practices.

 Designation Criteria:

The USTR considers factors like the severity of IP concerns, the economic impact on US rights holders, and the lack of progress made in addressing identified issues when designating countries to the PWL or Watch List.

Priority Watch List (PWL): Countries on the PWL face the most serious allegations of inadequate IP protection and enforcement. The USTR may initiate formal trade investigations or impose sanctions if they fail to demonstrate significant improvements.

Watch List: Countries placed on the Watch List have some concerning IP practices, but the issues may not be as severe as those on the PWL. The USTR uses the Watch List to monitor countries and encourage them to strengthen their IP regimes.