SECTION II. COUNTRY REPORTS
Priority Watch List
Algeria
Algeria remains on the Priority Watch List in 2012. The United States remains concerned about an Algerian law that bans an increasing number of imported pharmaceutical products and medical devices in favor of local products. The United States also remains concerned about the lack of protection against the unfair commercial use, as well as unauthorized disclosure, of test and other data generated to obtain marketing approval for pharmaceutical products. Algeria should strengthen patent protection and enforcement efforts to address widespread piracy and counterfeiting. The United States will continue to work with Algeria to address these and other issues.
Argentina
Argentina remains on the Priority Watch List in 2012. Argentina made some progress with respect to IPR enforcement. That progress included two significant actions that Argentina's judicial authorities, both civil and criminal, took against the unauthorized distribution of pirated content over the Internet. However, significant concerns remain, including regarding the widespread availability of pirated and counterfeit goods, and a longstanding patent backlog. Although some industries report good cooperation with law enforcement authorities, Argentina's judicial system remains inefficient, and it remains important that authorities issue more deterrent-level sentences. Piracy over the Internet is a growing concern, and overall levels of copyright piracy, in both the online and hard goods environments, remain high. The United States encourages Argentina to provide for protection against unfair commercial use, as well as unauthorized disclosure, of test and other data generated to obtain marketing approval for pharmaceutical products, and to provide an effective system to address patent issues expeditiously in connection with applications to market pharmaceutical products. The United States will continue to work with Argentina to address these and other matters.
Canada
Canada remains on the Priority Watch List in 2012, subject to review if Canada enacts long-awaited copyright legislation. The Government of Canada has given priority to that legislation. The United States welcomes that prioritization and looks forward to studying the legislation once it is finalized, and will consider, among other things, whether it fully implements the WIPO Internet Treaties, and whether it fully addresses the challenges of piracy over the Internet. The United States also continues to urge Canada to strengthen its border enforcement efforts, including by providing customs officials with ex officio authority to take action against the importation, exportation, and transshipment of pirated or counterfeit goods. The United States
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