The Special 301 statute calls upon the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to address in its review foreign country practices that deny fair and equitable market access to U.S. persons that rely upon intellectual property (IP) protection. Encouraging and fostering innovation and protecting the IP of U.S.-based innovative industries is critical to the future of the U.S. economy. Protecting the intellectual capital of the innovative biopharmaceutical industry in particular is vitally important for the continued medical breakthroughs that are saving the lives of patients all around the world.