WASHINGTON, Jan 24: The US government on Tuesday cleared Pakistan from the threat of having its trade preferences withdrawn after the country took action to clamp down on copyright theft.

US trade representative Rob Portman rejected a petition brought by US industries which wanted Pakistan punished over abuses of intellectual property rights, especially in relation to fake CDs and DVDs.

The petition, filed in 2001 by the US-based International Intellectual Property Alliance, called for Pakistan to be stripped from the US duty-free Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).

But Mr Portman said: “The United States is pleased with the recent progress Pakistan has demonstrated in fighting optical disk piracy.”

Pakistani authorities launched a concerted effort in April last year to destroy or confiscate pirated disks, close counterfeiting plants and arrest those responsible, the US trade chief said.

“In recognition of these positive developments, the United States has closed the review of the GSP petition concerning intellectual property rights protection and enforcement in Pakistan,” he said.

Under its GSP system, the United States grants duty-free treatment for thousands of products from developing countries. In 2004, Pakistani exports worth $94 million benefited from the scheme.

Mr Portman’s announcement coincided with a visit to Washington by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who told the US Chamber of Commerce on Monday that his government was serious about clamping down on copycat piracy.

“Pakistan is very conscious of the fact that without an effective, transparent regime to manage, control and discipline the use of intellectual property rights, we cannot be serious players in information-technology or any business for that matter because patents have to be respected,” he said.

Mr Aziz recalled that Pakistan had set up an intellectual property organization with members drawn from across government and industry to enforce copyrights.

“We will take strong action (to show) a sense of seriousness when it comes to patents and intellectual property rights,” the prime minister vowed.

Mr Portman added: “We look forward to working together with Pakistan to ensure that enforcement actions continue and that further steps are taken to strengthen its intellectual property environment.” —AFP