US struggles to build IPR case
27 July 2006
The United States is still gathering evidence for a possible World Trade Organisation complaint against China over intellectual property rights violations but will only proceed if it has a strong case, a senior State Department official told the South China Morning Post Wednesday. US Under Secretary for International Trade Franklin Lavin said US attorneys were �increasingly convinced� China was in violation, �but we've got to have an evidentiary basis that ensures we're going to win the case". Foreign companies have complained about rampant piracy in China but Washington is reportedly finding firms reluctant to provide evidence due to fears that doing so could put them out of favor with Beijing.