Fact Sheet: Protecting Innovation: The Special 301 Report and America’s Global Leadership
- May 27
- 1 min read
Governments around the world are making decisions that will influence where innovation thrives and how quickly patients benefit from new discoveries.
The 2026 Special 301 Report points to a growing divergence in how major economies value and protect intellectual property, raising important questions about competitiveness, investment and long-term leadership.
It marks a significant shift in U.S. trade and enforcement priorities by increasing scrutiny of pricing and reimbursement policies in high-income countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany and Japan, that undervalue innovation and push a greater share of global R&D costs onto American patients.
In the United States, strong intellectual property protections support 63 million jobs and over 41% of GDP, underscoring their central role in driving growth and medical progress.
At the same time, differing global approaches, ranging from uneven enforcement to restrictive pricing systems, are reshaping the environment for innovation.
Take a closer look at the one pager below to see what these global trends mean for the future of innovation and U.S. leadership.