Today, the WTO has decided to establish a panel to investigate the claim by the US that China enforces IP insufficiently.
Yan Liang of Xinhua writes:
“The panel decision was automatically made at a meeting of the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body, following a second request by the United States. Washington’s first request for such a panel was made last month but rejected by China in accordance with WTO rules.“
Ms Lisa Schlein of the Voice of America News writes:
“The two parties now have 20 days in which to agree on the three panelists. If they are unable to do so, the Director General of the World Trade Organization will name the panel.“
However Ms Schlein quotes WTO Spokesman, Keith Rockwell saying that WTO members can decide to suspend the panel’s work and try to resolve the matter bilaterally at any time during the process.
Read the Xinhua article here, the VOA’s article here, and a BBC article about it here.
More about the IP related WTO cases against China by the US:
Paper Tiger or Roaring Dragon, China’s Implementations and Enforcement
IP in China; Never a Dull Moment
Sino-American WTO Consultations Disaster, Blame Game Ensues
EU Will Not Support US WTO Piracy Case: Good Cop Approach
WTO Case Against China: Choose Your Battles Wisely
UPDATE: Stan Abrams of China Hearsay wrote a nice post about China’s rhetoric against the WTO IP Case, read here.
