Trade Commission Holds 'Policy Symposium on Unfair Trade Practices Investigation System'
[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Trade Commission of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that it will seek strategies to protect the intellectual property rights of Korean companies in preparation for risks such as the US-China trade dispute.
The Trade Commission announced that it will hold the "2020 Policy Symposium on the Investigation System for Unfair Trade Practices" at 2 p.m. on the 17th at the Korea International Trade Association in Gangnam, Seoul.
This symposium marks its 9th year. It will examine changes in the trade environment due to the intensification of the US-China trade dispute. Experts will come together to find directions for protecting Korean companies' intellectual property rights and developing the investigation system for unfair trade practices.
The symposium will be divided into sessions titled "Trends in WTO Intellectual Property Complaints and Development Directions for the Unfair Trade Investigation System" and "Global Market Changes and Intellectual Property Protection Response Strategies amid the US-China Trade Dispute."
In the first session, discussions will introduce WTO mediation topics on conflicts between private intellectual property rights and public interest, such as the patent case of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine.
Plans to advance the Korean-style unfair trade investigation system and activate the provisional measures system will be presented. The provisional measures system is a rule that can suspend imports before a determination of unfair trade practices is made.
In the second session, the US's intellectual property sanctions against China and China's efforts to strengthen intellectual property protection will be introduced, and response strategies for Korean companies will be explored.
Measures to enhance the independence and expertise of the Trade Commission, such as introducing an administrative judge system similar to quasi-judicial bodies like the US International Trade Commission, will be proposed.
Jang Seunghwa, Chairman of the Trade Commission, said, "The Trade Commission will fulfill its role as a guardian that protects domestic industries from anti-dumping and intellectual property infringements and establishes a fair trade order amid changes in the international trade environment."
At the event, three individuals who contributed to the development of the unfair trade investigation system received commendations from the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy.
The awardees are Choi Junwoo, Director of the Trade-Related Intellectual Property Protection Association, Lee Jaehyung, Patent Attorney of the Intellectual Property Advisory Group, and Jo Hojeong, Officer at the Korean Intellectual Property Office.
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