The United States Trade Representative (USTR) is now accepting public submissions from interested persons to be used in conducting the 2015 “Special 301” review of the intellectual property rights (IPR) practices of foreign countries. Each year the USTR leads an interagency process to identify the foreign countries that deny adequate and effective protection of IPR or that deny fair and equitable market access to U.S. persons who rely on IP protection. Written submissions from interested persons are a key source of information for this process.
Dates/Deadlines: The schedule and deadlines for the 2015 Special 301 review are as follows:
Friday, February 6, 2015—Deadline for interested parties, except foreign governments, to submit written comments, notice of intent to testify at the Special 301 Public Hearing, and hearing statements.
Friday, February 13, 2015—Deadline for foreign governments to submit written comments, notice of intent to testify at the Special 301 Public Hearing, and, although not mandatory, any prepared hearing statements.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015—Public Hearing—The Special 301 Subcommittee will hold a Public Hearing for interested parties, including representatives of foreign governments, at the offices of the International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC. No later than Friday,February 20, 2015, USTR will confirm the date and location of the hearing and provide the schedule atwww.ustr.gov.
Friday, February 27, 2015—Deadline for submitting post-hearing written comments. Interested parties may provide written comments after the hearing. To ensure consideration, comments must be received no later than Friday, February 27, 2015. Please submit additional written comments electronically via www.regulations.gov,docket number USTR-2014-0025.
On or about April 30, 2015—USTR will publish the 2015 Special 301 Report within 30 days of the publication of the National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report.
Procedures/Addresses: All written comments, notices of intent to testify at the public hearing, hearing statements and post-hearing written responses must be in English and submitted electronically viawww.regulations.gov, docket number USTR-2014-0025. Please specify “2015 Special 301 Review” in the “Type Comment” field.
