The Office of the United States Trade Representative published the Special 301 Report on April 25, 2019, reviewing global developments on trade and intellectual property. The MENA countries on the Priority Watch List are Algeria, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. The Watch List includes Egypt, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates.
These countries do in fact maintain strong IP laws and are making efforts to improve intellectual property rights protection and enforcement. Furthermore, Algeria, Egypt, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE are expected to increase bilateral engagement with USTR to address IP concerns. Such initiatives imply that there is a profound commitment to IP, which will undoubtedly increase and foster the global incentives for research and investment in these countries, and the region as a whole.
The Special 301 Report is prepared annually by the Office of the United States Trade Representative under Section 301 as amended of the Trade Act of 1974.
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