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medicines

Reject Trump’s threat to affordable medicines through TPP
14-May-2018 Scoop World
Government should reject Trump’s threat to affordable medicines through TPP and other trade deals.
Ukraine eyes patent law reform after civil society push on medicines access
2-May-2018 IP Watch
Ukrainian lawmakers are poised to approve sweeping patent reform legislation, driven in large part by a push by patients’ groups for better access to affordable medicines and healthcare.
Drug patent extensions under CETA could cost feds $270M a year: PBO
27-Apr-2018 iPolitics
Extended patent protections under Canada’s free trade deal with the European Union could cost the federal government some $270 million a year, according to a new report by the Parliamentary Budget Officer.
Dozens of NGOs oppose proposed EU watch list on IP rights
18-Apr-2018 IP Watch
A wide-ranging list of international nongovernmental organisations issued a letter to European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström opposing a proposal to establish a “watch list” of countries deemed failing to protect European intellectual property.
Costly medicines and pus in milk: a Brexit trade deal that’ll make you sick
12-Apr-2018 The Guardian
The US trade barriers list shows that Liam Fox could let more than just chlorinated chicken into the UK. The public deserve to know the details
MSF statement on resumption of EU-India FTA negotiations
11-Apr-2018 MSF Access Campaign
Officials from the European Union (EU) and India are expected to meet in Brussels on April 12th to resume technical talks on the long-stalled EU-India free trade agreement (FTA). A leaked draft of the agreement, which has been under discussion since 2007, contains proposals from the EU that push for intellectual property (IP) provisions in the FTA that could jeopardize access to affordable medicines.
Renegotiating NAFTA: Threats to affordable medicines
29-Mar-2018 Public Citizen
NAFTA was the first “trade” agreement that included new monopoly powers for Big Pharma companies.
America messed up the idea of free trade
22-Mar-2018 Quartz
US-led multilateral trade agreements have forced poorer foreign countries to honor patents in exchange for the benefits of bringing multi-national corporations—and their factory jobs—abroad.
Tokyo’s drift towards intellectual property crusader
12-Feb-2018 East Asia Forum
Japan’s role in RCEP negotiations appears to have been shaped by its participation in the TPP. Japan is now championing for expanded intellectual property right provisions which may block access to affordable medicines
NAFTA will undermine health unless Canada resists monopolies on medicines
6-Feb-2018 Toronto Star
Time and again, Canadians reaffirm their belief in the basic principle of equitable access to health care for all. But the spirit of this very Canadian principle remains in peril as NAFTA negotiations forge ahead.
Delhi’s RCEP talks on intellectual property shouldn’t forget India’s role as ‘Pharmacy of the World’
5-Feb-2018 The Wire
India must resist pressure from Japan and South Korea in RCEP for the elevated levels of intellectual property provisions and make sure the deal doesn’t limit the production of life-saving generic drugs in India and for many other developing countries of the world.
Over 100 organizations concerned with health sign open letter to Canadian, Mexican and US ministers of health and trade
1-Feb-2018 Pharmacist
AIDS, cancer, religious-based, teacher, and retiree advocacy groups were among the more than 100 organizations that recently signed a letter warning health and trade ministers of the United States, Canada, and Mexico not to undermine NAFTA’s access to affordable medicines.
Towards a peoples charter on international trade agreements
30-Jan-2018 Parti Sosialis Malaysia
It is now time we open up the dialogue on the kind of trade agreements that we want to see in place.
India-Cambodia deliberates on financial support in agriculture, pharmaceuticals
30-Jan-2018 Knowledge & News Network
India and Cambodia clinch a deal to work towards a Bilateral Investment Treaty which provides financial help to Southeast Asian nations.
FTA with Peru: India may have to lower import duty on drugs
17-Jan-2018 The Hindu BusinessLine
India may have to lower the import duty on pharmaceuticals for Peru in the discussions on the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) with the South American country.
Israel set to make a strong push for goods FTA
12-Jan-2018 The Hindu BusinessLine
The present Indian government has relaunched the talks with Israel. Israel wishes to conduct talks on regular basis to conclude the deal at the earliest. Indian patent system and pharmaceutical related issues have been the reasons why the deal couldn’t progress.
RCEP: India in a Catch-22
10-Jan-2018 Deccan Herald
India’s position in the RCEP is the most protectionist among all the member nations. India has been resisting demands from Korea & Japan on intellectual property clauses, and other nations on opening up markets.
As India set to sign FTA with Peru, govt seeks industry views on export import duty rates
9-Jan-2018 PharmaBiz.com
If the trade equation between India and Peru is in imbalance it would be causing more harm than benefit to India.
EU-Mercosur trade agreement: A bad deal for transparency, policy coherence and access to medicines
20-Dec-2017 Health Action International
Negotiations are now nearing completion and there are increasing concerns among public health advocates, patient and consumer organisations, and other stakeholders, both in Europe and the Americas.
South Centre statement on EU-MERCOSUR trade negotiations
4-Dec-2017 South Centre
EU-MERCOSUR trade negotiations must not impose TRIPS Plus provisions on protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights.