MUMBAI: Motion Picture Association of America chairman and CEO Dan Glickman today testified before the US Senate Finance Committee on possible improvements to enforcement provisions within US trade laws during a hearing titled “Trade Enforcement for a 21st Century Economy.”

Glickman highlighted the success of the motion picture industry in bringing jobs and revenue to our economy and outlined four points that he maintains will help secure greater enforcement of trade agreements.

“The US motion picture industry depends heavily on revenue from overseas market. Improvements in intellectual property rights enforcement and market access that free trade agreements have required of our trading partners are crucial to the industry’s continuing contribution to America’s economic strength, both at home and abroad,” said Glickman.

He stressed the combination of the aggressive training of foreign IP officials, the allocation of extensive resources for US trade negotiators, the enhancement of existing trade laws as necessary steps to improving the enforcement of trade agreements and policies and improved congressional oversight.

In April, the office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) issued its Special 301 priority watch list, identifying specific countries afflicted with serious problems of piracy. The MPAA continues to actively work with the U.S. Government and foreign governments on the successful implementation of effectively tailored enforcement policies to reduce the theft of intellectual property within these countries.

Glickman cited provisions within the recent trade agreement with Korea as an example of successful negotiations to protect US intellectual property and improve access to the Korean marketplace.

In 2006, the US motion picture industry earned $25.82 billion at the global box office and $9.49 billion at the domestic box office.