Taiwan likely in U.S watchlist

Taiwan likely in U.S watchlist

TAIPEI (AFP): The United States may tag Taiwan as a "priority"
country in a special watchlist this year for having allegedly
violated intellectual property rights, the Economic Daily News
reported Monday.

The message, conveyed to Taiwan's representatives in the US,
had raised concerns on the island which was placed in the general
category of the watchlist last year, the paper said.

A U.S trade representative official is scheduled to visit
Taiwan this month to examine Taiwan's intellectual property
protection practices prior to a review of the so-called 301
watchlist, it added.

"Putting Taiwan on the priority watchlist would mean
Washington would closely monitor the island's exports to the US
for six months and initiate talks with Taiwanese trade officials
during the period when necessary," a Board of Foreign Trade
official here told AFP.

Taiwan was the second largest source of pirated goods --
mostly computer hardware and components -- after mainland China.