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  underscored the critical role that IPR plays in helping to support the types of university technology partnerships that translate basic research into goods and services that benefit consumers and society at large.

Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA): In October 2012, Japan became the first signatory to ACTA to deposit its instrument of acceptance. The ACTA effort, launched in October 2007, brought together a number of countries prepared to embrace strengthened IPR enforcement and cooperative enforcement practices. ACTA signatories are Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and the United States. The EU and 22 EU Member States also signed the Agreement in January 2012, although it was not approved by the European Parliament. For signatories, the next step towards bringing the ACTA into force is to deposit instruments of ratification, acceptance, or approval. The ACTA would enter into force for those signatories 30 days following the deposit of the sixth such instrument. The ACTA includes provisions that seek to deepen international cooperation and to promote strong enforcement practices and ultimately would help sustain American jobs in innovative and creative industries. 

Regional and Bilateral Initiatives

The United States works with many trading partners to strengthen IPR protection and enforcement through the provisions of bilateral agreements, including trade agreements and bilateral memoranda of cooperation, and through regional initiatives.

The following are examples of bilateral coordination and cooperation:

 The U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) and the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) are two very significant bilateral annual trade engagements through which the United States negotiates important intellectual property and innovation commitments with China.

Trade and Investment Framework Agreements (TIFAs) between the United States and numerous trading partners around the world have facilitated discussions on enhancing IPR protection and enforcement. In 2014, TIFA meetings with Taiwan resulted in important commitments on IPR, although implementation of those commitments and improvements in other areas will be crucial. 

The following are examples of regional coordination and cooperation:

 In February 2014, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Intellectual Property Experts Group (IPEG) unanimously endorsed a U.S. proposal to enhance improved  </ul> 11