Bangkok to lobby US over status

The Nation

The move, as reported by the Office of the US Trade Representative over the weekend, was not expected, given that Thailand had taken strong actions against violators over the past year, he said.

However, Noppadol said law enforcement officials should continue to improve their performance so that piracy and other violations are further reduced.

The US also put China, Russia, Argentina, Chile, India, Israel, Pakistan and Venezuela on the list.

Thai officials had hoped the country would be moved to the less serious Watch List because authorities had taken legal action against about 7,000 rights violators and confiscated 6.7 million items of counterfeit goods in the past year.

Under Section 301 of the US Trade Act, retaliation measures could be taken against countries that violate its intellectual property rights.

Thailand faced criticism from the international

pharmaceutical industry when the previous Surayud government turned to compulsory licensing as a means to access cheap Aids and cancer drugs for humanitarian reasons.

Noppadol will meet a top US trade official today when the US government will be asked to review its decision on Thailand's status.