USTR releases 2025 “Special 301 Report” on protecting intellectual property rights
Annual report evaluates more than 100 trading partners and highlights significant IP concerns
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) today released its 2025 Special 301 Report assessing the adequacy and effectiveness of intellectual property (IP) rights protection and enforcement by U.S. trading partners. The annual report evaluates more than 100 trading partners and highlights significant IP concerns.
According to today’s USTR release, key developments in the 2025 report include:
- Mexico was moved to the Priority Watch List due to unresolved IP issues related to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
- Turkmenistan was removed from the Watch List after stakeholders reported no significant IP concerns.
- Eight countries, including China and Indonesia, were placed on the Priority Watch List, indicating serious IP protection and enforcement issues.
The report also details concerns and developments in 18 countries that USTR placed on the Watch List, including Vietnam and Brazil, and addresses cross-cutting issues such as online piracy, counterfeiting, and forced technology transfer.