Since May 1989 the U.S. trade representative (USTR) has implemented the so-called "special 301" intellectual property provision of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988. The special 301 authority is designed to formulate an overall strategy on intellectual property and market access, and to enhance the administration's ability to negotiate improvements in foreign intellectual property regimes through bilateral and/or multilateral initiatives. The statute requires the USTR to identify, on an annual basis, those foreign countries which deny adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights or fair and equitable market access for Americans relying on intellectual property protection. Of those trading partners not making significant progress or entering into good faith negotiations, the countries that represent the most egregious cases may be identified as "priority foreign countries." Priority foreign countries are subject to investigation under section 301 conducted on an accelerated time frame.
See also: Concession, Intellectual Property, Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988, Section 301, Trade Act of 1988,

This definition is in context to Customs. See more contextual defintions for Special 301.