The United States continues to monitor intellectual property (IP) practices in China. There are a wide variety of concerns that appear to worsen the trade dispute between the two nations.
President Trump has proposed tariffs of $150 billion on Chinese imports due to purported IP practices. So long as such proposals remain, we will likely see reprisals from China as well.
What are America’s IP concerns?
The primary IP concerns of U.S. officials include:
- Online piracy
- Trade-secret theft
- Forced technology transfers
The U.S. Trade Representative’s office (USTR) identifies countries that may create IP issues for U.S. corporations. They also have the authority to launch investigations concerning such matters. According to the U.S. Trade Representative’s office (USTR), there is an “urgent need” to address these concerns.
Asian officials, on the other hand, feel that U.S. allegations are unfair and not objective. It is unclear how the USTR wishes to address these perceived problems. However, the Trump administration did propose tariffs aimed at China in part due to such investigations.
The Trump administration hopes to reach a deal with China to resolve disputes. China has always been announcing proposed steps it will take to make its climate friendlier towards American businesses. This includes removing foreign ownership caps regarding vehicle companies.
Unfortunately, American companies do not have time to wait for government officials from both nations to resolve such matters. Every business will want to gain a competitive edge by early taking advantage of opportunities in China. Skilled attorneys can help in protecting your company’s IP rights regardless of the circumstances. They can also provide guidance on what steps to take in protecting such interests.