Washington: The influential U.S. Chamber of Commerce today asked the Obama Administration to designate India as a Priority Foreign Country, the worst classification given to foreign countries that "deny adequate and effective" protection of intellectual property rights.
"We hope that designating India as a Priority Foreign Country will generate a much-needed dialogue and engagement between the U.S. and Indian governments to strengthen the IP environment in India," Mark Elliot, executive vice president of U.S. Chamber's Global Intellectual Property Center, told PTI, after the chamber submitted its recommendation to the U.S. Trade Representatives.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce in its 2014 Special 301 Submission specifically highlights India as a country with particular challenges with respect to IP protections.
"As such we recommend the Office of U.S. Trade Representative to designate India as a Priority Foreign Country," Elliot said.
Under the U.S. Trade Act, a Priority Foreign Country is the worst classification given to "foreign countries that deny adequate and effective" protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) or "fair and equitable market access" to U.S. persons relying upon IPR protection.
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