KIEV, Feb. 29 – Ukraine hopes it will be able to prove at open hearings at the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) that it effectively protects intellectual property rights (IPR), despite recommendations by business representatives that Ukraine should be again designated as a Priority Foreign Country, which is the worst classification given to "foreign countries that deny "adequate and effective" protection of intellectual property rights.

The hearings will begin on March 1, the Ukrainian Economic Development and Trade Ministry said.