For the first time ever, Belize was today put on the "watch list" for countries not cooperating with the United States in protecting International property rights.
It amounts to nothing more than a warning but in a letter to the CEO in the Ministry of Foreign Trade, the US Trade Representative chastised government for minimal enforcement of property right laws. The letter also balks at what it calls lackluster responses from government officials to concerns raised by U.S. copyright holders such as Tommy Hilfiger and Levi's. The letter singles out the Corozal Free Zone for lack of enforcement, which it says, has led to copyright infringement and other criminal activities.
Again this is just a warning and the U.S. Embassy's Edgar Embrey told us today it is an indication of failure in large volumes with respect to international property rights mainly again in the Corozal Free Zone. Embrey says the U.S. Trade Representative issued the warning in hopes that Belize will take corrective actions within the next year. If the situation gets worse he warns Belize could be added to the priority watch list and then sanctions could follow.