The Trade Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on March 26, 2019, on the topic of Trade and Labor. In his opening remarks, the Subcommittee chairman, Rep. Earl Blumenauer noted, “our serial failure to adequately enforce trade agreements.” Although intellectual property rights (IPR) was not the focal point of the …
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US-Mexico-Canada Agreement: Raising Standards to Combat Counterfeit and Pirated Goods
The U.S. released the text of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on October 1, a newly proposed trade agreement intended to replace NAFTA, that includes intellectual property provisions that strengthen enforcement. The international trade in goods that infringe trademarks and copyrights has been targeted for decades due to the growing threat infringing goods pose to public …
- October 4, 2018
- Alex Cook
USTR’s 2018 Special 301 Report: Combating International Trade in Fakes
The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) issued the 2018 “Special 301 Report” on April 27, which identified 36 countries whose intellectual property (IP) systems present the greatest challenges to U.S. interests and deserve a higher degree of bilateral engagement. The report further identified 19 countries that must take steps to improve their customs agencies’ IP enforcement …
- May 1, 2018
- Alex Cook
Intellectual Property and the Escalating US-China “Trade War”
In August of 2017, the Trump Administration began the Section 301 investigation into China’s laws, policies, practices and actions that have had harmful effects on U.S. intellectual property. On March 22, the results of that investigation were released, and soon after, the administration indicated that the U.S. will impose tariffs amounting to tens of billions …
- April 10, 2018
- Alex Cook
Trainer: Intellectual Property in the Crosshairs of Trade Agenda?
In recent weeks, the Trump Administration has stepped up actions to punish China for violations of U.S. owned intellectual property, with a Reuters report noting bi-partisan support for a broad inquiry into China’s trade practices. The timing of the official investigation is unknown due to China’s recent support of UN sanctions against North Korea and …
- August 11, 2017
- Alex Cook
Trainer: TPP a Missed Opportunity for IP Protection & Enforcement
The U.S. is usually a proponent of efforts to raise the standards for the protection and enforcement of IP rights (copyrights, patents, trademarks, designs, trade secrets, etc.). The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement includes a strong IP Chapter that received support from a cross-section of industries. It is, therefore, disappointing that the Trump administration has decided to …
- January 25, 2017
- Alex Cook
UK votes out: après nous, le déluge
On June 24, 2016, the EU referendum result was announced, with a majority of voters deciding that the UK should leave the EU. Once the government notifies the European Council that the UK has decided to leave the EU, the two-year period for the negotiation for exit under Article 50 of the Treaty of the …
- June 27, 2016
- Alex Cook
