Special 301 Out-of-Cycle Review of Brazil, the Czech Republic, and Pakistan: Request for Public Comment

Resumo

Section 182 of the Trade Act of 1974 (Trade Act) (19 U.S.C. 2242), requires the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to identify countries that deny adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights or deny fair and equitable market access to U.S. persons who rely on intellectual property protection. (Section 182 is commonly referred to as the "Special 301" provisions of the Trade Act.) In addition, the USTR is required to determine which of these countries should be identified as Priority Foreign Countries. Acts, policies or practices that are the basis of a country's identification as a Priority Foreign Country are normally the subject of an investigation under the section 301 provisions of the Trade Act. On April 27, 2007, USTR announced the results of the 2007 Special 301 Review and stated that Out-of-Cycle Reviews of Brazil, the Czech Republic, and Pakistan would be conducted this year. Pursuant to these Out-of-Cycle Reviews, USTR requests written submissions from the public concerning acts, policies, and practices regarding the adequacy and effectiveness of intellectual property protection and enforcement in Brazil, the Czech Republic, and Pakistan.