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Acting United States Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky today announced decisions and initiated actions in two important areas: Special 301 -- protection of intellectual property rights -- and Title VII -- discrimination in foreign government procurement.

Today's decisions demonstrate the Administration's continued resolve to take strong measures to ensure comparable market access and intellectual property protection for U.S. products and to promote more open foreign procurement practices -- measures which are key to this Administration's policy of opening markets and creating opportunities for U.S. companies and jobs for U.S. workers.

Ambassador Barshefsky noted the substantial progress made during this past year in improving intellectual property protection, including progress in countries whose practices have been major IPR concerns in the past.

The most important progress in intellectual property protection occurred within the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, commonly known as the TRIPs Agreement, which came fully into force for developed countries on January 1, 1996. This is a significant step forward in advancing the protection of intellectual property globally. Ambassador Barshefsky stated: "We now expect all developed countries to be in conformity with the obligations of the TRIPs Agreement. We also are working with all other trading partners to accelerate implementation of this Agreement. These are top priorities for this Administration." She continued: "We will be monitoring carefully as these obligations come into effect and will not hesitate to use the WTO's dispute settlement provisions if necessary to ensure full compliance."