USTR releases 2024 “special 301 report” on protecting intellectual property rights
USTR’s findings of more than 100 trading partners after significant research and enhanced engagement with stakeholders
April 25, 2024
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) today released its annual “special 301 report” on the adequacy and effectiveness of the U.S. trading partner countries’ protection and enforcement of intellectual property (IP) rights.
The “special 301 report” details the USTR’s findings of more than 100 trading partners after significant research and enhanced engagement with stakeholders.
Today’s USTR release highlights the following key elements of the 2024 report:
- The report highlights progress made by U.S. trading partners to resolve and address IP issues of concern to the United States:
- USTR removed the Dominican Republic from the “watch list” this year for significant progress on addressing concerns with IP enforcement and transparency.
- USTR also removed Uzbekistan from the watch list this year due to sustained progress on long-standing issues pertaining to IP protection and enforcement.
- The special 301 review of Ukraine continues to be suspended due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
- USTR placed seven countries on the “priority watch list,” indicating that serious problems exist in that country with respect to IP protection, enforcement, or market access for U.S. persons relying on IP.
- The report also details concerns and developments in 20 countries that USTR placed on the watch list.
- “Cross-cutting issues” are included in the report.