engaged in this process over the past year with Australia, Singapore, Morocco, CAFTA-DR parties, Bahrain, and Oman. For example, in 2005 Morocco completed the implementation of its IPR obligations in the United States-Morocco FTA, and as a result, Morocco has comprehensive IPR legislation which provides a high standard of IPR protection.
Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) reviews
USTR will continue to use all statutory tools, as appropriate, to improve intellectual property protection in countries where it is inadequate. For example, USTR examines IPR practices in connection with its implementation of trade preference programs, such as the ongoing Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) reviews of countries. This year, because of significant progress in improving enforcement, USTR was pleased to announce the conclusion of the GSP reviews of Brazil, Kazakhstan and Pakistan. In addition, in January 2006, USTR restored GSP benefits to Ukraine because of progress in combating illegal optical disc production, including the passage of new legislation. USTR will continue to review the IPR practices of Russia, Lebanon and Uzbekistan under the ongoing GSP reviews of those countries.
STOP! Initiative
USTR is actively engaged in implementing the Administration's Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy (STOP!) initiative. Announced in October 2004, STOP! brings together all the major players – the federal government, private sector and trade partners – to take concerted action in cracking down on piracy and counterfeiting. The initiative is part of an effort to enhance coordination among all relevant U.S. Government agencies and U.S. trading partners to tackle this global problem. As part of STOP!, USTR is advocating adoption of best practices guidelines for enforcement. In 2005, USTR led interagency teams to meet with a number of key trading partners, including Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, UK, France, Germany, and the European Union, to establish greater cooperation on IPR enforcement. This year, USTR will continue these efforts to strengthen IPR laws and enforcement and create an international alliance against counterfeiting and piracy.
As part of this effort, USTR, in coordination with other agencies, is introducing new initiatives in multilateral fora to improve the global intellectual property environment that will aid in disrupting the operations of pirates and counterfeiters. Key initiatives have gained endorsement and are undergoing implementation in the G-8, the US-EU Summit, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.
At the November APEC Ministerial, APEC Leaders adopted best practices guidelines to improve border enforcement, protect digital copies and combat internet piracy. USTR is spearheading an effort to have APEC leaders endorse additional IPR guidelines that would keep supply chains free of pirated and counterfeit goods and improve IPR public awareness campaigns throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
