April 29, 2025
WASHINGTON — Today, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released its 2025 Special 301 Report on the adequacy and effectiveness of U.S. trading partners’ protection and enforcement of intellectual property (IP) rights.
“Americans take great pride as the world's leading innovators and creators,” said Ambassador Jamieson Greer. “Our trading partners must address the concerns identified in the Special 301 Report and stop those stealing the intellectual property of hard-working businesses and individuals. President Trump has a track record of empowering our innovators and workers, and this comprehensive report is a basis for the United States to take trade enforcement action against those not playing fairly.”
This annual report details USTR’s findings of more than 100 trading partners after significant research and enhanced engagement with stakeholders. Key elements of the 2025 Special 301 Report include:
USTR moved Mexico from the Watch List to the Priority Watch List due to long-standing and significant IP concerns that have not been resolved, many of which relate to Mexico’s implementation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). These include concerns regarding enforcement against trademark counterfeiting and copyright piracy, protection of pharmaceutical-related IP, pre-established damages for copyright infringement and trademark counterfeiting, and plant variety protection.
USTR removed Turkmenistan from the Watch List this year. Stakeholders have not raised significant concerns about IP protection or enforcement during the Special 301 review over the last several years.
USTR placed 8 countries on the Priority Watch List, indicating that serious problems exist in that country with respect to IP protection, enforcement, or market access for U.S. persons relying on IP. For example:
With the slow pace of reform in China, serious concerns remain regarding long-standing issues like technology transfer, trade secrets, counterfeiting, online piracy, copyright law, patent and related policies, bad faith trademarks, and geographical indications. China has failed to implement or only partially implemented a number of its commitments on intellectual property under the United States-China Economic and Trade Agreement (Phase One Agreement), and the United States will continue to monitor closely China’s implementation. Read More→
