as well as the unauthorized disclosure of tests and other data generated to obtain marketing approval for pharmaceutical products.
The United States appreciates Pakistan's interest in improving its IPR environment as evidenced by meetings Pakistan has convened with business associations and private companies to discuss IPR concerns and to increase public awareness on the importance of IPR. The United States looks forward to working with Pakistan to address these and other issues, including with respect to the full implementation of the IPO Act.
Near East, including North Africa
ALGERIA
Algeria remains on the Priority Watch List in 2015. The United States welcomes Algeria's increased work on promoting awareness of the importance of intellectual property in Algeria as well as its ongoing efforts that seek to root out the use of unlicensed software in government computers. The United States notes, however, that despite these efforts, much more remains to be done in the area of enforcement against piracy and counterfeiting, particularly, enforcement of existing anti-piracy statutes, and the provision of judicial remedies in the event of patent infringement. The United States encourages Algeria to provide an effective system for protecting against unfair commercial use, as well as unauthorized disclosure of test or other data generated to obtain marketing approval for pharmaceutical products. Algeria's ban on a number of imported pharmaceutical products and medical devices in favor of local products is a trade matter of paramount concern in Algeria and the primary reason that Algeria remains on the Priority Watch List. The United States urges Algeria to remove this market access barrier, and looks forward to continuing its engagement with Algeria, including in the context of Algeria's efforts to accede to the WTO.
KUWAIT
Kuwait remains on the Priority Watch List in 2015, having been elevated from the Watch List in November 2014 as the result of an OCR. The 2014 Special 301 Report stated that if, by the time the OCR was completed, Kuwait did not introduce to the National Assembly legislation resulting in a copyright law consistent with international standards, and resume effective enforcement against copyright and trademark infringement, then Kuwait would be moved to the Priority Watch List. These developments did not occur, and Kuwait was moved to the Priority Watch List in November 2014. The United States commends the Government of Kuwait's enforcement efforts taken since the OCR announcement and encourages Kuwait to maintain these efforts. However, the United States awaits the introduction to Kuwait's National Assembly of long-overdue copyright legislation that is consistent with Kuwait's international commitments. The United States stands ready to work with Kuwait towards resolving these important issues.
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