U.S places Thailand on Priority Watch List

The United States has maintained Thailand on its Priority Watch List following Thailand’s failure to make significant improvement on intellectual property rights and protection. This fact did not surprise Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva much as he already expected this. Thai News Agency had quoted that Abhisit and Washington has concern for Thailand’s intellectual property violation. U.S made the assessment over a relatively short period of time which opted to maintain Thailand’s trade status. This came after the U.S decision which kept Thailand on its special watch list of nations that fail to crack down on copyright and patent violations.

Abhisit promised that Thailand will ensure that intellectual property law is applied and that violations are prosecuted, denying the need to issue new laws as there are already several laws governing the issue.

The American trade office, the trading partners on the PWL, including Thailand, did not provide an adequate level of IPR protection or enforcement, or market access for those relying on intellectual property protection. So the countries will be the subject of “intense engagement” through bilateral discussions in the coming year.