PhRMA Calls Out Canada, China in IP Violators Watch List

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association singled out China and Canada as two of the 20 countries to watch for intellectual property transgressions in 2016.

In its annual submission to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Special 301 Report, PhRMA included 12 countries that it wanted to remain on USTR’s Priority Watch List, seven countries that merited inclusion on USTR’s Watch List, and one country — China — that PhRMA urged USTR to keep on its Section 306 monitoring list, which includes countries that the U.S. has bilateral agreements to address trade issues.

USTR’s Special 301 Report is an annual review of trade barriers that exist between the U.S. and its trading partners.  Under the Special 301 provisions of the Trade Act of 1974, USTR is required to identify countries that deny fair and equitable market access to the U.S. Organizations such as PhRMA can submit comments and their own watch lists, urging USTR and other federal agencies to address and resolve IP complaints.