China issues delay US-Russia WTO talks: Portman
Posted on: Thursday, 30 March 2006, 18:34 CST
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. frustration with high rates of piracy and counterfeiting in China is one reason Russia's bid to join the World Trade Organization has taken so long, U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman said on Thursday.
"One reason we have not been able to close with Russia ... is because we are insistent on certain improvements in IPR (intellectual property rights). Not just in laws and regulations, but in enforcement," Portman said.
The need to make sure Russia has a strong anti-piracy regime in place before the United States signs off on the deal "is a major lesson learned" from negotiations that led to China's entry into the WTO in 2001, Portman told reporters after a meeting with Democratic lawmakers.
Washington has been pressing Beijing to take stronger action to stamp out piracy and counterfeiting and is considering bringing a WTO case against China if that country does not act soon to enforce rules agreed to when it joined the world trade body.
The International Intellectual Property Alliance, which represents U.S. film, music and other copyright groups, has urged Portman's office to suspend current trade benefits for Russia because of widespread piracy estimated to cost American companies about $1.76 billion in lost sales in 2005.
That compares with estimated losses of about $2.4 billion in China, four years after it joined the WTO.
The U.S. industries also want Portman to designate Russia a "priority foreign country," a label reserved for countries with the worst record on fighting piracy.
Russian President Vladimir Putin complained on Wednesday the United States was blocking Russia's 13-year-bid to join the WTO by throwing up new demands in talks -- a charge Portman denied in a prepared statement.
Portman also said on Wednesday he hoped Russia and the United States could finish negotiations soon.
Source: REUTERS
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