The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative maintained the 11 countries included on its 2016 mid-tier priority watch list for copyright and other IP rights violations and 23 countries on that year’s lower-tier watch list (see 1604270049) in the same rankings for USTR’s 2017 Special 301 report on the global status of IP rights enforcement. On the 2017 priority watch list: China and India, which perennially appear on that list because of ongoing IP rights enforcement problems. The office again didn't include any countries on its top-tier priority foreign country list.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative kept the same countries included on last year’s higher- and lower-tier watch lists for copyright and other intellectual property rights violations on its 2017 Special 301 Report released April 28 (here). The report highlighted China’s continued inclusion in the higher-tier “Priority Watch List,” because of “longstanding and new IP concerns” that “strongly merit attention.” “China is home to widespread infringing activity, including trade secret theft, rampant online piracy and counterfeiting, and high levels of physical pirated and counterfeit exports to markets around the globe,” USTR said.

The International Trade Commission should highlight foreign countries' data localization laws as a top barrier to digital trade in a forthcoming report, telecom and tech officials said Tuesday during an ITC hearing. The commission began an investigation in February at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative's request into developments in the digital trade market and how laws in the U.S. and “key foreign markets” are affecting digital trade. The ITC is examining laws in the EU, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and Russia. The commission is expected to release the first of three reports on the investigation by Aug. 29, with the other two reports to be released in 2018 and 2019.

The International Trade Commission should highlight foreign countries' data localization laws as a top barrier to digital trade in a forthcoming report, telecom and tech officials said Tuesday during an ITC hearing. The commission began an investigation in February at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative's request into developments in the digital trade market and how laws in the U.S. and “key foreign markets” are affecting digital trade. The ITC is examining laws in the EU, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and Russia. The commission is expected to release the first of three reports on the investigation by Aug. 29, with the other two reports to be released in 2018 and 2019.

The International Trade Commission should highlight foreign countries' data localization laws as a top barrier to digital trade in a forthcoming report, telecom and tech officials said Tuesday during an ITC hearing. The commission began an investigation in February at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative's request into developments in the digital trade market and how laws in the U.S. and “key foreign markets” are affecting digital trade. The ITC is examining laws in the EU, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and Russia. The commission is expected to release the first of three reports on the investigation by Aug. 29, with the other two reports to be released in 2018 and 2019.

U.S. Trade Representative nominee Robert Lighthizer is “deeply concerned” about counterfeiting and piracy in China, he told the Senate Finance Committee in writing after a recent confirmation hearing (see 1703150027). If confirmed, Lighthizer said, he will use all relevant trade policy tools, including the Special 301 Report and “new procedures” provided under the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act, to address Chinese counterfeits.

U.S. Trade Representative nominee Robert Lighthizer is “deeply concerned” about counterfeiting and piracy in China, he told the Senate Finance Committee in writing after a recent confirmation hearing (see 1703150027). If confirmed, Lighthizer said, he will use all relevant trade policy tools, including the Special 301 Report and “new procedures” provided under the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act, to address Chinese counterfeits.

U.S. Trade Representative nominee Robert Lighthizer is “deeply concerned” about counterfeiting and piracy in China, he told the Senate Finance Committee in writing after a recent confirmation hearing (see 1703150027). If confirmed, Lighthizer said, he will use all relevant trade policy tools, including the Special 301 Report and “new procedures” provided under the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act, to address Chinese counterfeits.

U.S. Trade Representative nominee Robert Lighthizer vowed to engage with Canada over its "low de minimis level" and is “deeply concerned” about counterfeiting and piracy in China, he told the Senate Finance Committee in writing after a recent hearing (here). Lighthizer said he would consult with Congress and domestic stakeholders on developing a strategy to tackle U.S. export-related concerns with Canada's de minimis level of $20 Canadian dollars. He said an increase in the level could be a "significant issue" for U.S. bilateral and multilateral engagement with Canada. Lighthizer also cited potential negative the impacts of Chinese counterfeits on the U.S. economy, U.S. jobs, health, safety and national security. Lighthizer awaits committee advancement of his nomination to the Senate floor, after his March 14 confirmation hearing (see 1703150042). If confirmed, Lighthizer said, he will use all relevant trade policy tools, including the Special 301 report and “new procedures” provided under the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act to address Chinese counterfeits.

The Computer & Communications Industry Association, Internet Association and other industry groups again focused on concerns about EU member states’ adoption of ancillary copyright laws and some countries’ failure to comply with international norms on intermediary liability protections, during testimony Wednesday on the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative’s 2017 Special 301 proceeding. It's aimed at identifying countries and issues that threaten enforcement of U.S. entities’ IP rights. Ancillary copyright laws, seen as a tax on use of news snippets, and less robust intermediary protections that could be barriers to U.S. platforms were issues industry groups repeatedly raised to USTR last month in comments (see 1702100044).