The United States this week filed two complaints with the World Trade Organisation against China with regard to their copyright policy in relation to the work of American artists. China is of course one of the world's biggest sources of illegally pirated goods, which include designer clothes and medications as well as music. Accusing China of breaking its 2001 WTO entry agreement, US trade representative Susan Schwab said that piracy levels in china "remain unacceptably high", and adds that "excessively high legal thresholds for launching criminal prosecutions offer a safe harbour for pirates and counterfeiters".
The action may lead to a formal case being brought if an agreement cannot be reached within a two month period. The likelihood of reaching such an agreement seems slim, however, given that the move has provoked an angry response from China, with the Chinese commerce ministry expressing "strong dissatisfaction" at the US action.
Ministry spokesman Wang Xinpei said: "the Chinese government has always been firm in protecting intellectual property rights and attained significant achievements in this respect," adding that he felt that the complaints were likely to "seriously undermine" economic and trade relations between the US and China. Intellectual property office commissioner Tian Lipu added: "The US has ignored the Chinese government's immense efforts and great achievements in strengthening intellectual property rights protection and tightening enforcement."