Overview

• The U.S. Trade Representative's 2025 Special 301 report lists eight countries on its priority watch list for intellectual property rights violations, including newly elevated Mexico.
• Mexico's placement stems from longstanding issues with counterfeiting, pharmaceutical IP enforcement, and compliance with USMCA obligations.
• India remains on the priority watch list, with the report highlighting concerns over patent revocations, lengthy grant processes, and high tariffs on IP-intensive goods.
• China is retained on the list, with the USTR citing slow reforms, forced technology transfers, and incomplete implementation of Phase 1 trade deal commitments.
• Turkmenistan was removed from the watch list due to a lack of significant stakeholder concerns, while South Korea remains unlisted but flagged for pharmaceutical pricing transparency issues.