The State Council, China’s cabinet, on Wednesday issued a regulation saying the country may take countermeasures if foreign countries impose discriminatory or restrictive measures against its citizens or organisations in intellectual property disputes.
It issued the rule as part of Beijing’s efforts to strengthen its toolbox to counter external “containment and suppression”.
The rule, part of a set of regulations on the settlement of foreign-related intellectual property disputes, will come into effect on May 1.
Although the regulation does not single out any country, it appears to target the US and European Union, which have accused China of intellectual property rights infringement and forced technology transfer in trade disputes.
More to follow…