Tunisian Parliament Examines Bill to Approve Amended WTO Agreement on Intellectual Property Rights
The Assembly of People's Representatives (ARP) began examining Bill No. 2023/51 today, May 29, in the presence of Kalthoum Ben Rejeb, Minister of Commerce and Export Development. This bill aims to approve Tunisia's accession to the amended protocol of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
Bill No. 51 of 2023 focuses on amending the provisions of the protocol related to patents, classified as industrial property. The TRIPS Agreement is one of the main commercial agreements of the WTO, resulting from the Uruguay Round negotiations in 1995, which came into force in 2005 and was adopted by Tunisia under Law No. 6 of January 1995.
WTO member countries commit to implementing measures to protect intellectual property rights through local legislation and deterrent measures against any violation of these rights, including civil and criminal procedures. The agreement sets minimum national standards to protect intellectual property rights, covering copyright, neighboring rights, and industrial property rights.
Established in 1994 under the Marrakech Declaration, the WTO is a negotiating platform for member states on international trade rules, including trade in goods and services and intellectual property. The WTO currently has 160 member countries and recently welcomed the Union of the Comoros and Timor-Leste at its 13th Ministerial Conference.
The WTO aims to facilitate global trade by eliminating non-tariff barriers and promoting transparency through periodic reviews of member countries' trade policies. It is also responsible for resolving trade disputes and enforcing all adopted agreements, including those related to trade in goods and services.
By adopting Bill No. 2023/51, Tunisia reinforces its commitment to a legal framework conforming to international standards, thereby promoting innovation and investment.