States urges Argentina to implement an effective coordination system between its health and patent authorities to prevent the issuance of marketing approvals for unauthorized patent-infringing copies of pharmaceutical products, as well as to address problems that rights holders encounter in attempting to obtain effective injunctions to stop such unfair commercial use. Copyright piracy also remains a significant problem in Argentina, with the U.S. copyright industry reporting that music piracy worsened in 2005, mainly in the areas of physical piracy (burned CD-Rs) and Internet piracy. Copyright piracy also continues in the areas of entertainment and business software and book publishing. Although the Argentine Government took some IPR enforcement actions during 2005, the United States encourages stronger IPR enforcement actions to combat the widespread availability of pirated and counterfeit products. The United States will continue to monitor Argentina's efforts to address these concerns.
BELIZE
Belize will be elevated from the Watch List to the Priority Watch List in 2006. Piracy and counterfeiting are widespread in Belize, and improvements need to be made by Belize's Government to strengthen IPR enforcement. Although cooperation between rights holders and government entities has improved in the past year, concerns remain about the ability and willingness of authorities to conduct inspections, seize counterfeit and pirated goods, complete prosecutions, and issue deterrent sentences. A continuing concern is the lack of IPR enforcement in Belize's Corozal Commercial Free Trade Zone, through which infringing products are transshipped from Mexico to the United States and elsewhere. The United States urges Belize to improve IPR enforcement efforts by: revising necessary laws and regulations to facilitate inspections, seizures, criminal investigations, and destruction of infringing products; increasing resources devoted to border enforcement and the number of investigations of counterfeiting and piracy; prosecuting and issuing deterrent sentences to counterfeiters and pirates; and implementing strong IPR enforcement actions in the Corozal Commercial Free Trade Zone.
BRAZIL
Brazil will remain on the Priority Watch List in 2006. The United States commends Brazil's progress on copyright enforcement this past year, including the formation of a public-private National Anti-Piracy Council, development of a national action plan by Brazil's National Council to combat piracy and IP crimes, and increased police actions. In January 2006, in recognition of these improvements, USTR terminated a review of whether to remove Brazil's benefits under GSP because of inadequate enforcement of copyright. Despite these improvements, however, high levels of piracy and counterfeiting still exist and criminal prosecutions remain minimal. The United States will continue to engage with Brazil on improving copyright enforcement. Unfortunately, commensurate progress has not been made in other areas. The United States is concerned about Brazil's lack of protection against unfair commercial use of undisclosed test and other data submitted by pharmaceutical companies seeking marketing approval for their products. In addition, concerns remain that Brazil has not significantly reduced its backlog of pending patent applications, due in part to a requirement that the health regulatory agency issue its approval before pharmaceutical patents are granted by the Brazilian patent office. The United States will continue to work with Brazil to address these important IPR issues.
