RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONIP/C/W/197
5 July 2000
(00-2764)
Council for Trade-Related Aspects
of Intellectual Property RightsOriginal:  English
JOINT STATEMENT ON THE WTO/TRIPS AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION AT THE
MEETING OF APEC MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR TRADE
(DARWIN, AUSTRALIA, 6-7 JUNE 2000)1
All the APEC member economies recognize the important role of the Agreement on
Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) administered by the WorldTrade Organization (WTO) based on the understanding that the extension of an adequate protection to
intellectual property rights contributes to the economic development of the APEC member economies
as well as to the promotion of sound trade and investment in the APEC region.  Thus, the APEC
member economies established as a goal of the Action Agenda adopted at the APEC Economic
Leaders' Meeting held in Osaka in November 1995 that the APEC member economies would fully
implement the TRIPS Agreement by 1 January 2000 at the latest.
The APEC member economies have formulated the Collective Action Plan within the
Intellectual Property Rights Experts Group to promote technical cooperation with the aim of
implementing the TRIPS Agreement and to ensure sustainable benefits to the member economiesthrough the dynamic use of intellectual property rights.  Each of the APEC member economies has
also improved its intellectual property system under the Individual Action Plan.
APEC economies remain firmly committed to the goal of full implementation of the TRIPS
Agreement throughout the APEC region in 2000, and look forward to the final stages of ensuring
complete adherence to TRIPS standards and provisions by all WTO APEC members.
APEC economies acknowledge the considerable pr ogress that has been made in the APEC
region to bring about the development and strengthening of intellectual property administration and
enforcement systems in line with TRIPS standards, noting that this has entailed major legislative and
infrastructure development in many economies in a relatively short space of time.  They reaffirm their
commitment to continuing technical cooperation to bring about full and sustained TRIPSimplementation in such a way that the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights
should contribute to the promotion of technological innovation and to the transfer and dissemination
of technology, to the mutual advantage of producers and users of technological knowledge and in a
manner conducive to social and economic welfare, and to a balance of rights and obligations.  They
also reaffirm their commitment to ensure that the necessary skills are developed to enable the
realization of the potential economic and social benefits of intellectual property rights in all APEC
economies.
Recognizing the general need for greater public awareness of intellectual property rights, and
broader dissemination of practical information on the effective use of the intellectual property systemin the APEC region, APEC member economies have resolved to undertake greater cooperation within
the APEC region on the planning, development and delivery of public education programmes
concerning intellectual property.
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1 This statement is circulated as agreed by the Council for TRIPS at its meeting that took place from
26 to 29 June 2000.