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.