Intellectual property (IP) is an important component of the U.S. economy. U.S. government efforts to protect and enforce IP rights domestically and overseas are crucial to safeguarding innovation and preventing significant losses to U.S. industry and IP rights owners as well as addressing health and safety risks resulting from the trade in counterfeit and pirated goods. This testimony addresses two topics on IP protection and enforcement in anticipation of some of the challenges ahead in implementing a new Act: (1) lessons learned from past efforts to coordinate IP protection and enforcement; and (2) observations on a recent initiative to place IP attaches overseas to promote and protect IP rights. Illustrations.
There are laws to safeguard against former fed. employees, incl. former trade officials, from using their access to influence gov¿t. officials. These post-employment activities are restricted by a fed. conflict of interest law, known as the "Revolving Door" law. Two other laws -- the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) -- require individuals conducting certain activities to publicly disclose them. This report provides a summary of the Revolving Door law, FARA, and LDA. The report interviewed ethics officials at 3 agencies whose missions focus on trade -- the U.S. Trade Rep., the Internat. Trade Admin., and the Internat. Trade Comm. -- and collected data on the number of senior officials who separated from these agencies from 2004-09.
It is important that the U.S. does everything it can to ensure that U.S. laws regarding the entry of illegal goods are fully enforced at the U.S. borders. Effective monitoring of textile and apparel imports are also important because duties on textile and apparel products account for a significant share of U.S. duty collections. However, this enforcement takes place in the challenging and busy environment of U.S. ports of entry -- in FY 2008, there were nearly 29 million trade entries processed at more than 300 ports of entry throughout the U.S. This testimony summarizes key findings on: (1) U.S. gov¿t. efforts to enforce laws related to imports of textiles and other goods, including transshipment; and (2) the revenue implications of these efforts. Charts and tables.
This is a print on demand edition of a hard to find publication. Intellectual property (IP) plays a significant role in the U.S. economy. Enforcing IP laws involves many U.S. agencies, making coordination essential. Under the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2008 (PRO-IP Act), Congress required the U.S. Attorney General, through the Department of Justice (DoJ), to devote additional resources and undertake other specific IP efforts. The PRO-IP Act also created the position of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC) to enhance interagency coordination. This report addresses DoJ and IPEC¿s efforts to implement the act. It also compares the 2010 Joint Strategic Plan on Intellectual Property Enforcement to the content called for in the PRO-IP Act. Illus.
Fed. law enforcement actions against criminals who manufacture and distribute counterfeit and pirated goods are important to enforcing intellectual property (IP) rights and protecting Americans from unsafe or substandard products. This report: (1) examines key fed. agencies¿ roles, priorities, and resources devoted to IP-related enforcement; (2) evaluates agencies¿ IP-related enforcement statistics and achievements; and (3) examines the status of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center. The author reviewed relevant documents, interviewed officials in five key agencies, and analyzed agency IP enforcement data from FY 2001 through 2006. Includes recommendations. Charts and tables.
U.S. trade preference programs promote economic development in poorer nations by providing duty-free export opportunities in the U.S. The Generalized System of Preferences, Caribbean Basin Initiative, Andean Trade Preference Act, and African Growth and Opportunity Act unilaterally reduce U.S. tariffs for many products from over 130 countries. However, two of these programs expire partially or in full this year, and Congress is exploring options as it considers renewal. This testimony describes the growth in preference program imports since 1992, identifies policy trade-offs concerning these programs, and evaluates the overall U.S. approach to preference programs. Includes recommendations. Tables.
Intellectual property (IP) plays a significant role in the U.S. economy, and the U.S. is an acknowledged leader in its creation. IP is a category of legal rights that grant owners certain exclusive rights to intangible assets or products of the human intellect, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; and symbols, names, images, and designs. U.S. intellectual property rights holders must compete with the global illicit market that is being spurred by economic incentives such as low barriers to entry into counterfeiting and piracy, high profits, and limited legal sanctions if caught. A wide range of federal agencies are involved in efforts to protect and enforce IP rights with personnel posted domestically and overseas. Illustrations.
The U.S. and its trading partners have enacted laws to remedy the unfair trade practices of other countries that cause injury to domestic industries. U.S. law authorizes the imposition of additional duties on importers to remedy these unfair trade practices. Antidumping (AD) duties are imposed on imports that are ¿dumped¿ in the U.S. and countervailing (CV) duties are imposed on imports that are subsidized by foreign governments. Over $600 million in AD/CV duties has been uncollected. This report describes agencies¿ views on: (1) obstacles (if any) to strengthening internat. agree. (IA) to help the U.S. collect AD/CV duties from importers without attachable assets in the U.S.; and (2) whether strengthened IA would improve duty collection. Illus.
Much attention has focused on the topic of offshoringÓ of information technology (IT) & other services to lower-wage locations abroad. OffshoringÓ of services generally refers to an organization's purchase from other countries of services that it previously procured or purchased domestically, such as software programming or telephone call centers. This report: (1) describes the nature of offshoring activities & the factors that encourage offshoring, (2) discuss what U.S. government data show about the extent of this practice by the private sector & Federal & state governments, & (3) discuss available data on the potential effects of services offshoring on the U.S. economy. Charts & tables.
Congress passed the Tom Lantos Block Burmese Jade Act in 2008 prohibiting the import of Burmese-origin jadeite, rubies, and related jewelry and calling for certain international actions. This report assesses: (1) key characteristics of the trade of Burmese-origin jadeite and rubies; (2) progress agencies have made to restrict imports of Burmese-origin jadeite, rubies, and related jewelry; and (3) the progress agencies have made in pursuing international actions. The report reviewed and analyzed policy guidance, reports, and trade data and interviewed officials from the Dept. of State, Homeland Security, other U.S. agencies, as well as U.S. and foreign jewelry industry representatives and foreign government officials. Includes recommendations. Illus.
U.S. companies adversely affected by unfair imports may seek antidumping (AD) duties. China is classified as a non-market economy (NME) & a special methodology is used that is believed to produce AD duty rates that are higher than those applied to market economies. In light of increased concern about China's trade practices, a review was conducted by efforts of U.S. gov't. agencies responsible for ensuring free & fair trade with China. This report: (1) explains the NME methodology; (2) analyzes AD duties applied to China & compares them with duties applied to market economies; & (3) explains circumstances in which the U.S. would stop applying its NME methodology to China & evaluates the potential impact of such a step. Charts & tables.
Sub-Saharan Africa's (SSA) textile and apparel industry has not achieved the growth anticipated under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). This report identifies changes to U.S. trade preference programs "to provide incentives to increase investment and other measures necessary to improve the competitiveness of [SSA] beneficiary countries in the production of yarns, fabric, and other textile and apparel inputs." This report provides Congress a range of options put forward by experts for: (1) possible changes to AGOA or other U.S. trade preference programs; and (2) other measures the U.S. gov¿t. could take to help increase investment in and improve competitiveness of SSA textile and apparel inputs production. Charts and tables.
Since 9/11, the U.S. has established tools to address the threat to the U.S. financial system of money laundering and terrorist financing. One tool is Sect. 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act, which authorizes the Treasury Dept. to prohibit U.S. financial institutions from maintaining certain accounts for foreign banks if they involve foreign jurisdictions or institutions found to be of primary money laundering concern. To make this finding, Treasury examines several factors and issues a proposed rule announcing its intent to apply Sect. 311 restrictions. This report examines: (1) the process used to implement Sect. 311 restrictions; (2) the process Treasury follows to finalize or withdraw a proposed rule; and (3) how Treasury assesses the impact of Sect. 311. Illustrations.
Countries can take varying approaches to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Since energy use is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, policies designed to increase energy efficiency or induce a switch to less greenhouse-gas-intensive fuels, such as from coal to natural gas, can reduce emissions in the short term. In the long term, however, major technology changes will be needed to establish a less carbon-intensive energy infrastructure. To that end, a U.S. policy to mitigate climate change may require facilities to achieve specified reductions or employ a market-based mechanism, such as establishing a price on emissions. Charts and tables.
U.S. textile & apparel imports from China have more than doubled in value since China became a World Trade Organization (WTO) member. When joining the WTO, China agreed to a special textile safeguard mechanism applicable only to that country. This report: (1) describes the mechanism, (2) describes requests for safeguard action filed by U.S. producers & the results of these requests, & (3) evaluates U.S. agency procedures for transparency & accessibility. Includes recommendations. Charts & tables.
Intellectual property (IP) protection and enforcement is inadequate in parts of the world, resulting in significant losses to U.S. industry and increased public health and safety risks. This report evaluates U.S. gov¿t. efforts to enhance protection and enforcement of IP overseas. Using a case study approach, this report: (1) describes the key IP protection and enforcement issues in China, India, and Thailand; (2) assesses the extent to which the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office IP attaches and the Dept. of Justice IP Law Enforcement Coordinator effectively collaborate with other agencies at the posts; and (3) evaluates the extent to which each of the posts has undertaken interagency planning in collaborating on its IP-related activities. Illustrations.
This is a print on demand edition of a hard to find publication. In October 2008, Congress passed the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2008, to improve the effectiveness of U.S. gov¿t. efforts to protect intellectual property rights such as copyrights, patents, and trademarks. The act also required information on the quantification of the impacts of counterfeit and pirated goods. This report: (1) examined existing research on the effects of counterfeiting and piracy on consumers, industries, gov¿t., and the U.S. economy; and (2) identified insights gained from efforts to quantify the effects of counterfeiting and piracy on the U.S. economy. The report reviewed literature and studies quantifying or discussing the economic impacts of counterfeiting and piracy on the U.S. economy, industry, gov¿t., and consumers. Illustrations.
Fed. and state trade promotion activities are intended to help U.S. firms compete successfully in foreign markets. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) -- firms with fewer than 500 employees -- represent a key segment of exporting firms. This report determines: (1) the relationship between the U.S. Commercial Service (CS) and states' trade offices' export promotion programs; (2) CS's methodology and practices for determining costs and establishing user fees for export promotion services; and (3) how CS's user fees affect SMEs' use of its programs. The auditor conducted a survey of states' trade offices and reviewed data such as export promotion budgets and fees, program information, govt. standards, and user fee studies. Illus.
Global climate change is one of the most significant long-term policy challenges facing the U.S., and policies to mitigate climate change will have important economic, social, and environmental implications. This report examines the potential effects of greenhouse gas emissions pricing on U.S. industries¿ internat. competitiveness and trade measures being considered as part of U.S. legislative proposals to address climate change. It examines: (1) what is known about estimating industry effects; (2) examples of industries that may be vulnerable to a loss in internat. competitiveness from emissions pricing; (3) trade measures and other approaches to address competitiveness issues; and (4) potential internat. implications of trade measures.
The Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im) provides loans, loan guarantees, and insur. to support U.S. exports, and support small bus. (SB). In 2006, Ex-Im was required to review performance standards for their assistance to SB, esp. those owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and by women. This report evaluated the extent to which Ex-Im¿s standards address the functions referred to in the Ex-Im Bank Reauth. Act of 2006¿s requirement for performance standards; how well Ex-Im is measuring its achievement of the standards, incl. those related to SB owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and by women; and Ex-Im¿s use of performance info. to improve operations and results. Includes recommend. Illus.
If completed, the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) agreement would encompass an area of 800 million people & about $13 trillion in production of goods & services, making it the most significant regional trade initiative presently being pursued by the U.S. The 34 democratic nations of the Western Hemisphere formally launched negotiations towards a FTAA in 1998, & set a Jan. 2005 deadline for concluding a FTAA agreement. This report analyzes: (1) progress made in FTAA negotiations since April 2003, (2) factors that have been influencing the FTAA's progress, & (3) future prospects for the FTAA. Charts & tables.
In Nov. 2001, the WTO launched a new set of multilateral negotiations. It laid out an ambitious agenda for a broad set of new multilateral trade negotiations, which calls for a continuation of discussions on liberalizing trade in ag. and services, which began in 2000. It also provides for new talks on market access for non-ag. products, trade and the environ., trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights, and other issues. This report: (1) analyzes the factors that contributed to the successful launch of new WTO negotiations, (2) analyzes the key interim deadlines for the most sensitive issues from the present time through the next ministerial conference in 2003, and (3) evaluates the most significant challenges facing the WTO in the overall negotiations.
Since FY 2001, the fed. gov¿t. has been unable to collect over $1 billion in AD and CV imposed to remedy injurious, unfair foreign trade practices. These include AD duties imposed on products exported to the U.S. at unfairly low prices (i.e., dumped) and CV duties on products exported to the U.S. that were subsidized by foreign governments. These uncollected duties show that the U.S. gov¿t. has not fully remedied the unfair trade practices for U.S. industry and has lost out on a substantial amount of duty revenue to the U.S. Treasury. This statement summarizes key findings from prior reports on: (1) past initiatives to improve AD/CV duty collection; and (2) additional options for improving AD/CV duty collection. This is a print on demand report.
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