Mexico has been placed on a priority watch list by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) for intellectual property rights, joining an elite group of countries including China, Argentina, India, Indonesia, Russia, and Venezuela.
The Chinese embassy expressed regret over this development, suggesting that US solidarity with Mexico may be limited to issues related to China. In a statement, they highlighted the fact that according to the Global Innovation Index 2024 (WIPO), China is among the economies experiencing rapid growth in innovation due to its efforts in protecting intellectual property.
The embassy pointed out that while the United States has forced the popular social media app TikTok to sell its key algorithms, American automaker Tesla continues to build megafactories in China. Considering this, they expressed hope that the US will prioritize honesty over the protection of intellectual property.
This move comes as a response to accusations made by the US embassy in Mexico against China on World Intellectual Property Day (April 26). The US alleged that China engages in unfair trade practices, affecting innovation in both Mexico and the United States. They claimed these actions have negative consequences, including reducing innovation and fostering unfair competition.
The USTR’s move has sparked criticism from the Chinese government, who argue that the US should prioritize its own intellectual property protection efforts before criticizing others. This development highlights the ongoing tensions between China and the US regarding trade practices and intellectual property rights.
Source: La Jornada
