President Trump Highlights IP in State of the Union Speech
Written February 7, 2019
President Donald J. Trump on February 5, 2019, highlighted intellectual property during the State of the Union speech to Congress. “We are now making it clear to China that after years of targeting our industries, and stealing our intellectual property, the theft of American jobs and wealth has come to an end,” the President said as he discussed the importance of “reversing decades of calamitous trade policies.”
The President’s second mention of IP came in the context of the North American Free Trade Agreement. “Another historic trade blunder was the catastrophe known as NAFTA,” he said. “Our new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement — or USMCA — will replace NAFTA and deliver for American workers: bringing back our manufacturing jobs, expanding American agriculture, protecting intellectual property, and ensuring that more cars are proudly stamped with four beautiful words: made in the USA.” The President also declared his desire to lower the cost of prescription drugs, calling for transparency in pricing.