Industry representatives serving on the Intellectual Property Rights IFAC provide advice on trade policy matters. Recently, members of the Intellectual Property Rights IFAC have provided advice on a range of issues that included: developing countries' efforts to meet their TRIPS obligations as required on January 1, 2000, WTO accession candidates fulfilling implementation obligations by the time of accession, WTO TRIPS Council compliance reviews, WTO dispute settlement cases, and WTO TRIPS Council compliance reviews and WTO dispute settlement cases. The Intellectual Property Rights IFAC plays an active role in advising the U.S. Government on negotiating objectives and priorities for the Free Trade Area of the Americas, including the outline of the IPR Chapter to the Free Trade of the Agreement of the Americas (FTAA). Advice from the committee has also been sought on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the U.S.-EU TransAtlantic Economic Partnership, and various bilateral negotiations and consultations. Finally, the Intellectual Property Rights IFAC provides advice to the U.S. Government on negotiating objectives for WTO accessions, and identifies IP concerns in countries that are eligible beneficiaries under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program.

Industry representatives serving on the Intellectual Property Rights IFAC have a voice in U.S. trade policy formulation through the Industry Consultations Program (ICP), which emerged from the 1974 Trade Act, to ensure that trade negotiators were coordinating with the private sector during trade negotiations. Based on the program's success, the ICP was renewed and expanded by the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 and the Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988. The Department of Commerce, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), and other agencies work side-by-side with business leaders who serve as advisors to the U.S. Government. The Department of Commerce and USTR have joint responsibility for operating the advisory committees of the ICP.
Eligibility for Membership on the Intellectual Property Rights IFAC
Committee members are U.S. citizens representing U.S. manufacturing or service firms, trade internationally, and have a special interest in and knowledge of international trade issues. Representatives of industry associations may also participate. Additional information can be found on the Industry Consultations Program's website at www.ita.doc.gov/icp or by contacting: