US ignored Beijing’s gains in intellectual property protection, Chinese watchdog says
Head of revamped agency says China is paying more for foreign IP and has reinforced the country’s laws
Beijing has hit back at Washington over an investigation into China’s intellectual property practices, saying the United States failed to take China’s advances in IP protections into account.
Shen Changyu, head of China’s revamped State Intellectual Property Office, made the remarks on Tuesday in response to a US investigation under section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which prompted Washington to propose a 25 per cent tariff on about 1,300 industrial technology, transport and medical imports from China.
“We think that the outcomes of so-called 301 investigation by the US ignored the objective fact that China has strengthened its protection on intellectual property,” Shen said.
He said amendments to China’s anti-unfair competition law would bolster protection foreign companies’ technology.
Shen also said China spent over US$28.6 billion for the rights to use foreign technology last year, with the amount paid to the United States rising 14 per cent year on year.