US -Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement
October 1, 2018
The Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC) is reporting today (October 1, 2018) on the terms of the new US-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement (USMCA). At a high level they are informed by government sources that the following has been agreed:
- Increase in data protection for biologics to 10 years
- Copyright Notice and Notice regime maintained
- Copyright period increased to life of author plus 70 years (delayed implementation of 2 years)
- Patent term restoration/adjustment for patent office delays (delayed implementation of 4.5 years)
- Increased border enforcement on in-transit shipments
- Required safeguards for trade secrets
- Digital trade section largely mirrors Canada’s agreement for CPTPP (the Transpacific partnership agreement entered into without the United States)
The text of the IP sections can be found here: https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/files/agreements/FTA/USMCA/20%20Int...