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intellectual property

Is Indonesia’s IPR Framework incompatible with RCEP?
12-May-2019 The Diplomat
On intellectual property rights, there’s a serious gap between domestic Indonesian law and the structures of the proposed RCEP
The African single market takes a step forward as the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement becomes a reality
12-Apr-2019 Hogan Lovels
As a second step, negotiators will focus on rules pertaining to intellectual property rights, competition policy and investment, which they aim to finalise by June 2020.
2019: USTR takes aim at European countries over pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement policies
4-Apr-2019 KEI
In its latest report on foreign trade barriers, the USTR, prompted by the pharmaceutical industry, takes aim at the pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement policies in the European Union.
PBO report shows that new NAFTA provisions threaten Pharmacare, says Council of Canadians
3-Apr-2019 Council of Canadians
The Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) revealed that new intellectual property provisions in the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement would cost Canadians as much as $169 million more per year for pharmaceutical drugs
Trump’s NAFTA 2.0 puts big pharma first, America second
1-Apr-2019 NY Magazine
The new version of NAFTA forbids the US Congress from curtailing Big Pharma’s patent monopolies on some of the world’s most expensive drugs.
Investment protection proposals under RCEP threaten India’s pharma industry
15-Mar-2019 The Wire
Free trade agreements like the RCEP will infringe on India’s intellectual property laws. India must stand its ground in the interest of public health.
Democrats cool toward NAFTA replacement, question labor standards
14-Mar-2019 Reuters
Several Democrats said a closed-door meeting between United States Trade Representative failed to ease their concerns about the new US-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s provisions on labor, biologic drugs and some other issues.
RCEP talks: Farmers, civil society bodies warn against obligations on patenting seeds, plant varieties
4-Mar-2019 The Hindu Business Line
Farmer and CSOs stressing that India should not agree to obligations with respect to IP on seed and planting materials at the RCEP negotiations as it hurt the livelihood of poor farmers.
Philippine civil society letter on RCEP & plant variety protection
27-Feb-2019
The undersigned signatories are writing to strongly stress that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership negotiations must not place any obligation on the Philippines or any other developing country to join or implement UPOV systems
Malaysian civil society & farmer groups’ memorandum on RCEP & plant variety protection
27-Feb-2019
RCEP negotiations must not include obligation to join or implement UPOV systems and in anyway undermine farmers’ rights
Sign-on letter from India against IPR on seed
25-Feb-2019 Forum against FTAs
A mega free trade agreement, like RCEP that undermines farmers’ seed freedoms in a mega diverse country, with seed diversity and farmers’ knowledge is unacceptable, say over 50 groups and citizens
How drug prices could derail new trade pact to replace NAFTA
22-Feb-2019 USA Today
Democrats in Congress contend that the new pact would force Americans to pay more for prescription drugs, and their argument has dimmed the outlook for one of Trump’s signature causes.
Provision that could raise drug costs emerges as key obstacle to NAFTA approval
8-Feb-2019 The Star
Some Democrats in the US, like Canada’s generic drug industry, warn that the new biologics rule would keep drug prices high by requiring citizens to wait longer before they can get their hands on lower-cost similar drugs known as biosimilars.
More than 70 US health, consumer and other groups demand elimination of NAFTA 2.0 terms that would lock in high US medicine prices
22-Jan-2019 Public Citizen
In a letter to Congress, the groups demand that the pact’s giveaways to Big Pharma that would keep medicines unaffordable be removed before the pact is sent to Congress.
We can’t afford to let the new NAFTA drive up drug prices
14-Jan-2019 Chicago Tribune
NAFTA 2.0 would effectively tie the US Congress’ hands in the struggle against rising drug prices.
The IP implications of the USMCA: Who needs to do what
11-Jan-2019 Lexology
The USMCA most closely reflects US IP laws, subjecting the US to almost no revisions of its current domestic intellectual property laws.
Free trade agreement with Indonesia to be signed in Jakarta on 16 December
14-Dec-2018 The Federal Council, The Portal of the Swiss Government
Indonesia - EFTA trade deal will be signed, 98 per cent of Swiss exports to Indonesia will be exempt from customs duties over the coming years.
Comments on negotiating objectives for a US-Japan trade agreement
12-Dec-2018 PhRMA
US drug manufacturers want Japan to provide 12 years of data protection for biologic medicine in upcoming trade talks. That would be four more years than Japan currently provides.
Japan to extend copyright period on works including novels and paintings to 70 years on Dec. 30
10-Dec-2018 Japan Times
The copyright period on works such as novels and paintings in Japan is set to be extended to 70 years after the authors’ deaths, from the current 50 years, as part of legislation to approve the TPP.
NAFTA 2.0: US-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Chapter 20: pharmaceutical related patent provisions
5-Dec-2018 Public Citizen
The Intellectual Property Chapter of the revised NAFTA, rebranded by the Trump Administration USMCA, includes provisions that threaten to undermine critical efforts to­wards affordable health care and medicine.