Ambassador Kirk's recent decision to resume negotiations on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is welcome news for our economy and intellectual property rights. This decision will hopefully lead towards the crafting of an agreement that strengthens enforcement and protects IP as a key driver of innovation, job creation, and economic growth.

The Chamber joined twenty nine other unions, associations and business groups in a letter commending Ambassador Kirk on this decision.

"By establishing a meaningful and effective framework for the protection of IP rights with likeminded trading partners, ACTA will help ensure all nations understand that counterfeiting and piracy are serious problems that do not merely affect businesses' bottom lines in the short term but also discourage investment, job creation and innovation in the long term," reads the letter.

A strong agreement is essential in our efforts to protect intellectual property, and USTR's decision is an encouraging step in the right direction. IP creates jobs and grows our economy, and we need to do all we can to enforce IP protections.

Download the joint letter to Ambassador Kirk (PDF, 8.6K)