WASHINGTON -- The U.S. and European Union today announced they are ready to endorse a joint "action strategy" for the enforcement of intellectual property rights in Third World countries.

Representatives of the two regions are meeting this week in Vienna to nail down a variety of issues with implications to both sides of the Atlantic. The value of counterfeit goods seized at EU borders has grown more than 1000% since 1998, according to one published report.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and the European Commissioners for Industry and Trade, Gunter Verheugen and Peter Mandelson, respectively, announced the joint effort to enforce IP rights.

In 2004, the number of counterfeit goods seized at EU borders was worth €103 million, up more than 1000% since 1998.

The measures being undertaken by the two sides include greater customs cooperation and common enforcement operations in such nations as China and Russia.

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