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BIZCHINA / Top Biz News
US calls on WTO to set up IPR dispute panel
By Jiang Wei (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-08-15 06:57
The United States has asked the World Trade Organization (WTO) to set up
a panel to settle its intellectual property rights (IPRs) dispute with
China after the two sides failed to negotiate an agreement.
Sean Spicer, spokesman for the US Trade Representative, said China has
taken tangible steps to improve IPR protection and enforcement in recent
years, but the US still sees "important gaps that need to be addressed".
Under WTO rules, the WTO Dispute Settlement Body will consider the US
request at its next meeting on August 31.
The panel will have six to 12 months to decide on the case.
Chen Jihong, a lawyer with Zhonglun W&D Law Firm in Beijing, said the
United States was not justified in its criticism of China's IPR
protection.
He said the country has made great progress in IPR protection over the
past decade by improving legislation and boosting enforcement.
The US filed a complaint to the world trade body over China's protection
and enforcement of copyright and trademarks in April. Consultations were
held in June.
The IPR case is one of five disputes lodged with the WTO by the United
States against China. It is the third case lodged against China in which
the United States has requested a WTO dispute settlement panel.
Last September, Washington requested a panel examine China's regulations
on imposing local content requirements in the auto sector. In July this
year, it called for a panel to look into China's so-called industry
subsidies. And a dispute over market access to films, music, home
entertainment videos and publications is also under consultation.
(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)
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