China to Open National IP Appeals Court Amid U.S. Trade Spat

China will kick off 2019 with a new specialized intellectual property appeals court, a move that may help smooth trade tensions with the U.S.

The National People’s Congress has approved a proposal to create an appellate IP tribunal within the Supreme People’s Court, the highest court in the country. It will open its doors Jan. 1, according to the NPC’s Oct. 26 announcement. Litigants who disagree with a tribunal decision can petition the Supreme People’s Court for a retrial.

Against the backdrop of U.S.-China trade tensions, “it might be good if China can demonstrate that its new structure for handling ...