Impact of Trans-Pacific Partnership’s Intellectual Property Rights Issues for Mexico and China

Abstract

The general question explored in this chapter deals with the implications of intellectual property provisions of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) on Mexico and China’s business interests and economic relations. We show in this chapter that Mexico will follow the TPP’s intellectual property rights (IPR) provisions set by the United States. China, because of its economic might has more options to follow, even though a close association with the United States still remains one of its best strategies. In the first part of this chapter, we explore the guiding principles that motivate the main negotiator of the treaty, the country that intends to write the rules related to IPR, that is, the United States. In the second part, we look at Mexico’s and China’s positions in this regard. In the third part, we highlight points of convergence and divergence between both countries in their respective IPR policies. In the conclusion, we draw some implications in terms of business and policy in the perspective of TPP’s IPR provisions for Mexico and China.