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Sign in to searchUSTR Priority Watch List (PWL)
The USTR Priority Watch List (PWL), part of the annual Special 301 Report issued by the United States Trade Representative, identifies countries with significant deficiencies in intellectual property (IP) protection and enforcement. In 2026, India has again been placed on the PWL, indicating continued U.S. concerns regarding India’s IP regime.
The Special 301 framework, rooted in the U.S. Trade Act of 1974, categorizes countries into Priority Foreign Country (PFC), Priority Watch List (PWL), and Watch List (WL). Inclusion in the PWL does not impose immediate sanctions but can lead to intensified bilateral engagement and potential future trade actions.
Key concerns cited for India include provisions like Section 3(d) of the Indian Patents Act, which restricts “evergreening” of pharmaceutical patents, delays in patent processing, weak enforcement against piracy and counterfeiting, and the absence of a dedicated trade secrets law. Additionally, regulatory measures such as high tariffs and biodiversity-related rules have been flagged as barriers.
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USTR places India on Priority Watch List in 2026 over IP concerns. Explore Section 3(d), pharmaceutical patents, and India-US trade tensions.
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