Thailand has once again been retained on the United States trade watch list, marking its tenth consecutive year under scrutiny, as Washington calls for stronger enforcement against intellectual property (IP) violations—particularly online piracy, according to a report published by Bangkok Post.
The decision was announced by the Office of the United States Trade Representative in its annual Special 301 Report, released in Washington, DC. The report highlights the need for Thailand to intensify action against digital piracy platforms and expand enforcement efforts to include smaller-scale infringers.
Thailand, which was previously on the priority watch list from 2007 to 2017, has remained on the current watch list for a decade despite making incremental progress in strengthening its IP framework. The US has identified a total of 19 trading partners, including major economies such as the European Union and Canada, that require further improvements in IP protection and enforcement.
Encouragingly, the US acknowledged Thailand’s progress in advancing amendments to its Patent Act and Copyright Act. These reforms are intended to support accession to international agreements administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization, including the Performances and Phonograms Treaty.
However, Washington has urged Thailand to deliver sustained, measurable progress to enhance investor confidence and safeguard innovation within the global digital economy.
