Los Angeles, CA – April 30, 2021 - The Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) applauds Ambassador Tai and the USTR team in their dedication and work on the newly released US Government’s Special 301 Report for 2021 and for the special focus put on China.

This year’s Report is exceptionally strong on the role poor copyright laws and enforcement play in damaging US trade opportunities abroad and the need for trade and diplomatic actions to persuade the listed nations to make improvements.   

IFTA’s President & CEO Jean M. Prewitt commented, “This was an incredibly hard year for our industry and IFTA is especially encouraged to see USTR focus specifically on trade barriers that close off the Chinese market to US films and tv programs.  We have been aggressive in our advocacy with USTR, both in the 301 Review context but also in relation to separate negotiations on the US-China Film Agreement. This Report is validation that our needs are being heard.”

The input IFTA provided to this year’s Report through the submission of the International Intellectual Property Alliance (of which IFTA is a founding member) had a heavy emphasis on China much of which was included. 

The 2021 301 Report notes that “China again failed to reform measures that bar or limit the ability of foreign entities to engage in online publishing, broadcasting, and distribution of creative content, such as prohibitions in the Foreign Investment Catalogue and requirements that state-owned enterprises (SOEs) hold an ownership stake in online platforms for film and television content.”  It also underscored that it is “…critical that China fully implement the terms of the 2012 United States-China Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding films and abide by its commitment to negotiate additional meaningful compensation for U.S. content.”

 The full IIPA 301 Submission can be found here

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About the Independent Film & Television Alliance:

IFTA is the global trade association for independent film and television production, finance, distribution, and sales companies. The organization represents the independent sector before governments and international bodies and provides significant entertainment industry services to its members in 20 countries consisting of independent production and distribution companies, sales agents, and financial institutions engaged in production finance.