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U.S. Considering Next Move On China Piracy

Slimy   on 16 February 2007 - 00:04 · 5 comments & 2915 views

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In October 2006, the United States gave China more time to reduce widespread piracy and counterfeiting of U.S. goods, but five months later the superpower is again considering whether to take legal action at the World Trade Organization. In prepared testimony for the hearing, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Karan Bhatia stated that "No settlement has been reached. If it becomes clear that negotiations will not be successful, then we will proceed with WTO dispute settlement." It has been at least a year since the United States began threatening a WTO complaint against China for failing to enforce U.S. intellectual property rights.

U.S. software, music and book publishers estimate they lose billion of dollars of sales annually in China because of piracy while other American companies are hurt by Chinese sales of counterfeit drugs, auto parts and other goods. The Bush administration is consulting with Congress and industry before deciding its next move. "The Chinese government ... [has] laws and regulations. The problem that we're seeing is not very much improvement in terms of piracy and counterfeiting levels. Our preference, and I think this is supported by industry, is to obtain real results that resolve problems. And if that is possible through dialogue, that's worth pursuing as a first option," Bhatia told reporters.

News source: InformationWeek

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(2 replies) #1 D-M on 16 Feb 2007 - 00:18
Maybe people wouldn't pirate over in China so much, if they were paid more than 80 cents a week. I guess the piracy makes up for the benefits?
#1.1 Jgamer88 on 16 Feb 2007 - 01:05
If they where pirating Chinese goods then it would make up for the benefits but there are not so they are nothing more than petty thiefs.
#1.2 Aero Ultimate on 16 Feb 2007 - 22:25
Quote - (D-M said @ #1)
Maybe people wouldn't pirate over in China so much, if they were paid more than 80 cents a week. I guess the piracy makes up for the benefits?

Yes, and who's responsible for these ludicrously low wages? The US companies who let their stuff produce there because they don't want to pay more
In effect, their complaint about the piracy is quite hypocritical because of this.
(1 reply) #2 Ji@nBing on 16 Feb 2007 - 04:04
Give me a break. The US needs to stop trying to bully everyone and mind their own business. These people would not be buying the things if they couldn't get it for $1 anyway, so how much $ is the US losing in China? Absolutely none. I hope China tells the US to eat $hit. It's not like the US plays by the rules in trade matters anyway, only when they see fit. Anyone remember the softwood lumber dispute with Canada? Besides, with the trade defecit that the US has with China, they should be very weary of Chinese retaliation. China has the US by the balls on this one, and I love it
#2.1 underthebridge on 17 Feb 2007 - 08:48
well said, you hit it the nail right on the head.

it's not lost money because it would not have been bought in the first place at full price.

and why does the US feel they can impose their laws on the world? oh wait, i know the answer to that - greed

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