Newsletter
CUSTOMS SET UP SPECIAL TEAM TO DETECT COUNTER-FEIT EXPORTS
In the past, the fact that ROC Customs did not take the initiative in seizing goods that infringe on intellectual property rights has attracted in-ternational attention. Following Taiwan's ac-cession to the World Trade Organization, pur-suant to the provisions of the TRIPS agreement customs authorities should be given powers to investigate the importing and exporting of counterfeit and IPR-infringing goods on their own initiative. In March 2003, Customs set up a special team for the detection and seizure of counterfeit goods destined for export. The team reports directly to the Political Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Finance, thus placing responsi-bility for the detection of counterfeit goods at a high level of seniority.