Japan Proposes Intellectual Property Protection at RCEP Talks

Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, May 13 (Jiji Press)--Japan proposed to set up a working group to discuss the protection of intellectual properties at the just-ended first round of negotiations on a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership free trade agreement covering many parts of the Asia-Pacific region. During the five-day talks of 16 Asia-Pacific nations that ended Monday in Brunei's capital, Japan also suggested creating working groups on fair competition and other international trade issues. But some member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations were cautious and no conclusions were reached, officials with access to the meeting said. The 16 nations are Japan, China, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand, as well as the 10 ASEAN member states. In the first RCEP negotiation round, participants held working group meetings in the fields of tariffs, services and investment. Each group agreed on how to proceed with negotiations. As for the Japanese proposal to launch working groups on the protection of intellectual property rights such as patents and copyrights and the other negotiation matters, ASEAN members, in particular, expressed diverse opinions, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official said, adding the matter will continuously be discussed. Meanwhile, there were also opinions on electronic commerce, environment protection, international labor migration and government procurement. The RCEP-negotiating parties will hold their second meeting in Australia in September. Economic ministers from the 16 countries are likely to discuss some RCEP topics at their meeting in August, people familiar with the matter said. END