India has once again been placed on the United States Trade Representative’s ‘Priority Watch List’ for intellectual property rights. India is among six countries, including China and Russia, on the priority watch list in a special report released on Thursday.
The report has been released by the US Trade Representative (USTR), which deals with the adequacy and effectiveness of trading partners’ protection and enforcement of intellectual property (IP) rights.
The USTR’s Special 301 Report on Intellectual Property Protection and Enforcement 2026, released on Thursday, has listed six countries on the priority watch list – China, India, Indonesia, Chile, Russia and Venezuela.
“India remains one of the world’s most challenging major economies with respect to the protection and enforcement of IP,” the report said, as quoted by PTI.
Placement of a trading partner on the Priority Watch List or Watch List indicates that particular problems exist in that country with respect to IP protection, enforcement, or market access for US persons relying on IP.
There are 19 countries, including the EU, Turkiye and Pakistan, on the watch list.
“Using all the enforcement tools we have to address unfair trade practices is a top priority… We have rigorously reviewed our trading partners’ IP practices and expect to take action where needed to protect American innovators and creators globally,” said Ambassador Jamieson Greer.
The Special 301 Report is an annual assessment by the US of intellectual property protection practices in other countries. It evaluates over 100 trading partners and identifies those that don’t meet US standards for protecting intellectual property rights.
Furthermore, it has placed Vietnam as the Priority Foreign Country (PFC), marking the first time in 13 years that any country is listed in that particular category.
(With inputs from PTI)
US Again Keeps India on Priority Watch List on Intellectual Property Rights – What It Means
