Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Innovation Through Trade Act of 2013”.
Innovation Through Trade Act of 2013
A BILL
To amend the Trade Act of 1974 to establish the position of Chief Innovation and Intellectual Property Negotiator in the Office of the United States Trade Representative to ensure the protection of United States innovation and intellectual property interests, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Establishment of Chief Innovation and Intellectual Property Negotiator
in subsection (b), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
“(2) There shall be in the Office three Deputy United States Trade Representatives, one Chief Agricultural Negotiator, and one Chief Innovation and Intellectual Property Negotiator, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. As an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate, any nomination of a Deputy United States Trade Representative, the Chief Agricultural Negotiator, or the Chief Innovation and Intellectual Property Negotiator submitted to the Senate for its advice and consent, and referred to a committee, shall be referred to the Committee on Finance. Each Deputy United States Trade Representative, the Chief Agricultural Negotiator, and the Chief Innovation and Intellectual Property Negotiator shall hold office at the pleasure of the President and shall have the rank of Ambassador.”
in subsection (c)—
by moving paragraph (5) two ems to the left; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(6) The principal functions of the Chief Innovation and Intellectual Property Negotiator shall be to conduct trade negotiations and to enforce trade agreements relating to United States intellectual property and to take appropriate actions to address acts, policies, and practices of foreign governments that have a significant adverse impact on the value of United States innovation. The Chief Innovation and Intellectual Property Negotiator shall be a vigorous advocate on behalf of United States innovation and intellectual property interests. The Chief Innovation and Intellectual Property Negotiator shall perform such other functions as the United States Trade Representative may direct.”
Compensation— Section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking “Chief Agricultural Negotiator.” and inserting the following:
Report required— Not later than 180 days after the appointment of the first Chief Innovation and Intellectual Property Negotiator pursuant to paragraph (2) of section 141(b) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended by subsection (a), and every 180 days thereafter, the United States Trade Representative shall submit to the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives a report describing in detail—
enforcement actions taken by the Trade Representative during the 180 days preceding the submission of the report to ensure the protection of United States innovation and intellectual property interests; and
other actions taken by the Trade Representative to advance United States innovation and intellectual property interests.