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United States Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky today announced the results of the 1997 Special 301 annual review. The review examined in detail the adequacy and effectiveness of intellectual property protection in over 70 countries. Ambassador Barshefsky today announced that she will, as a result of this year's Special 301 review, initiate WTO dispute settlement actions against Denmark, Sweden, Ireland and Ecuador. This brings to 10 the number of IPR-related WTO cases initiated by the United States. Dispute settlement actions against Greece and Luxembourg may be initiated in the near future if TRIPS obligations are not met in the coming months.

"The Special 301 annual review is one of the most effective instruments in our trade policy arsenal," stated Ambassador Barshefsky. "It is much more than an in-depth review. It provides a direct route to press countries to improve their IPR practices.

In addition to announcing these WTO dispute settlement cases, Barshefsky announced placement of 10 trading partners on the "priority watch list," including Argentina, Ecuador, Egypt, the European Union, Greece, India, Indonesia, Paraguay, Russia, and Turkey. She also placed 36 trading partners on the "watch list."

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.

Progress has occurred throughout the world, much of it the direct result of U.S. Government pressure. While more needs to be done in many of these countries, progress has occurred in such countries as Japan, Taiwan, Brazil, Portugal, Bulgaria, Russia, Turkey, Mexico, Bolivia, Korea,