Emerging Markets Surge Ahead While Advanced Economies Fall Behind in IP Protection
Washington, Friday, 13 March 2026.
The 2026 US Chamber IP Index reveals a striking reversal where emerging markets like UAE, Ecuador, and Malaysia are rapidly strengthening intellectual property frameworks while eight EU member states experienced declining scores. This shift threatens traditional innovation hubs, with IP-intensive sectors contributing $1.4 trillion to US services trade alone, making strong protection crucial for maintaining competitive advantage in the global knowledge economy.
A Dramatic Shift in Global IP Leadership
The US Chamber of Commerce released its 2026 International IP Index on March 11, 2026, revealing a fundamental shift in global intellectual property protection patterns [1]. The comprehensive assessment, which evaluates IP systems across 55 economies representing over 90% of global GDP using 53 distinct indicators, shows advanced economies are weakening their IP frameworks while emerging markets are making substantial progress [1]. This marks the 14th edition of the influential index that serves as a critical benchmark for international IP policy development [1].
Emerging Markets Lead the Charge
While advanced economies struggled, emerging markets demonstrated remarkable progress in strengthening their IP frameworks. The United Arab Emirates led all economies with a significant increase of 4.72%, followed by Ecuador with a 2.81% improvement, Malaysia with 1.42%, and Brunei also achieving 1.42% growth [1][2]. These improvements resulted from comprehensive IP law reforms implemented across these jurisdictions [1]. Overall, 20 economies improved their scores in 2026, while 27 economies registered little to no improvement [3].
Economic Implications of IP Protection Erosion
The economic stakes of these IP protection changes are substantial. IP-intensive sectors account for 31% of US services exports and support a $1.4 trillion surplus in services trade, underscoring the critical importance of robust IP frameworks for maintaining competitive advantage [1][3]. Kelly Anderson, vice president of international policy at the US Chamber’s Global Innovation Policy Center, emphasized that “intellectual property is the foundation of modern economies, driving innovation, creativity, and competitiveness” [1].
Global Enforcement Challenges Persist
Despite these concerning trends among advanced economies, some positive developments emerged in IP enforcement globally. Brazil, Greece, Nigeria, Peru, and Poland implemented new laws to strengthen online anti-piracy enforcement during the assessment period [3]. However, enforcement remains a significant global challenge despite these strides in combating IP infringement [1]. China, which moved from position 24 in 2025 to 25 in 2026 with a stable score of 54.58%, continues to face challenges in patent term restoration and patent enforcement, with rights holders experiencing difficulties in these critical areas [2][3].