In 2017, the World Economic Forum’s assessed the competitive landscapes of 137 economies across the globe. The U.S. ranked second out of 137 in overall competitiveness and innovation.

Part of that success is due to our strong patent system — first recognized in the U.S. Constitution — and the robust protections we put in place that allow inventors to capitalize on their achievements and incentivize research and development. When foreign countries undermine our patent system and inventors’ intellectual property rights, America loses. And unfortunately, there is a growing trend around the world of other nations using regulatory enforcement as a pretense to undercut intellectual property and patent protections.