Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA)

In October 2007, the Government of Canada announced that it would participate in discussions towards an Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA).  Since then six rounds of formal negotiations have been completed. The next round is scheduled to take place at the end of January, 2010 in Mexico. The objective of an eventual ACTA is to put in place international standards for enforcing intellectual property rights in order to fight more efficiently the growing problems of counterfeiting and piracy. The proposed agreement will cover three areas: improving international cooperation, establishing best practices for enforcement, and providing a more effective legal framework. ACTA negotiating partners, a group which includes along with Canada, Australia, the European Union and its member countries, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United States, have stated their intention to conclude the agreement in 2010.

• ACTA 7^th Round of ACTA Negotiations, Guadalajara, Mexico, January 26 to 29, 2010  
• Agenda for the 7^th Round of ACTA Negotiations, Guadalajara, Mexico, January 26 to 29, 2010  
• ACTA 6^th Round of ACTA negotiations in Seoul, Korea; November 4 to 6, 2009
• ACTA 5^th Round of negotiation - Rabat, July the 16-17th 2009
• Consultation on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement and Issues Related to Pharmaceuticals and Counterfeit Medicines - Summary of Discussions - June 30, 2009
• Joint Statement: Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement - June 12, 2009
• Submissions related to the ACTA received during online consultations  UPDATED
• Roundtable Public Consultations on ACTA (April 6, 2009) - Summary of Discussions
• Roundtable Public Consultations on ACTA (April 6, 2009) - Presentation (html | pdf 585 KB)
• ACTA: Summary of Key Elements Under Discussion - November 6, 2009
• December 15-17, 2008 - Meeting in Paris, France - December 18, 2008
• October 8-9 2008 - Meeting in Tokyo, Japan - October 24, 2008
• July 29-31 2008 - Meeting in Washington, D.C. - August 1, 2008
• Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) FAQs - June 6, 2008
• The Government of Canada is seeking the views of Canadians on the proposed Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA)
• Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement - Fact Sheet 

The emphasis on innovation as a measure of global competitiveness as well as the growth in participation of the Canadian economy in global trade have made the international dimension of intellectual property policy increasingly important. There are numerous well established international conventions specifically relating to the protection of intellectual property rights, some dating back over a century. These conventions are administered through the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) brought some of the well established intellectual property obligations found in WIPO administered conventions into a trade context. International Trade Canada works closely with other departments in decision making related to trade policy and intellectual property in order to support Canadian interests.

Related Links

Canada

• Canadian Intellectual Property Office
• Industry Canada's Intellectual Property Policy Information Page
• Canadian Heritage - Copyright Policy

Regional and International

• World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Treaties
• World Trade Organization (WTO) – TRIPS

Contact Point

If you have questions or comments, please contact Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada at:

Intellectual Property, Information and Technology Trade Policy Division (TMI)
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
Lester B. Pearson Building
125 promenade Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0G2
Fax: 613-944-0066
E-mail : consultations@international.gc.ca