US Again Flags India on Intellectual Property Rights Protection, Keeps It on Priority Watch List

India, May 02 : India has once again been placed on the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) “Priority Watch List” in its latest annual review of intellectual property rights (IPR) protection and enforcement. The designation places India among six countries identified by the US as having significant concerns related to intellectual property safeguards and market access.

The USTR’s Special 301 Report 2026 named China, India, Indonesia, Chile, Russia and Venezuela on the Priority Watch List, while 19 countries, including Pakistan, Türkiye and the European Union, were placed on the Watch List.

In the report, the USTR stated that India continues to remain “one of the world’s most challenging major economies” regarding the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights. According to the assessment, concerns persist over patent protection, copyright enforcement, counterfeit products and barriers faced by US companies dependent on intellectual property-based businesses.

The report added that India’s progress in strengthening its intellectual property ecosystem has been “inconsistent,” despite repeated engagements between the two countries on trade and innovation issues.

Placement on the Priority Watch List does not automatically trigger sanctions or legal penalties. However, it indicates that the United States believes there are serious shortcomings in a country’s intellectual property regime and may increase diplomatic and trade pressure for reforms.

The USTR uses the Special 301 Report as a mechanism to monitor global intellectual property standards and encourage countries to align with US expectations on patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets. The report reviews more than 100 trading partners annually.

US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer said Washington would continue using “all enforcement tools” available to tackle unfair trade practices and protect American innovators and creators worldwide.

The report also highlighted Vietnam as a “Priority Foreign Country,” the highest level of concern under the Special 301 framework, for the first time in 13 years. The US may consider initiating a Section 301 investigation against Vietnam within the next 30 days.

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