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Médecins Sans Frontières warns about IP inclusion in Asian FTA
27-Aug-2014 IPWatch
The inclusion of intellectual property in the ongoing negotiations of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership between 16 countries, most of them Asian, is raising concerns about “TRIPS-plus” measures that could jeopardise generic drugs production in India, according to Médecins Sans Frontières.
Leaked EU trade pact suggests Canada caved on drug patents
14-Aug-2014 Canadian Press
A leaked copy of the full text of the Canada-EU free trade agreement was posted online late Wednesday and appeared to confirm the fears of the deal’s critics on both sides of the Atlantic.
AMA warns on risks lurking in TPP trade deal
25-Jul-2014 Macro Business
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has urged the Australian government to reject provisions in the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP) that “could undermine the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and compromise the ability of governments to improve public health”.
The US / Peru Free Trade Agreement and generic medicines
2-Jul-2014 Inca Kola News
Peru’s National Association of Pharmaceutical Laboratories (Alafarpe) has filed a petition in the Peruvian courts to stop generic drugs from being sold based on the terms of US-Peru free trade agreement, according to Inca Kola News
Free trade agreement threatens PBS
26-Jun-2014 SBS
The threat of the Transpacific Partnership Agreement to Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme is so real that Michael Moore, CEO of the Public Health Association of Australia, has said “It will cost Australian lives".
Free trade agreements contain provisions that restrict access to medicines: UNITAID
8-Apr-2014
UNITAID, a global health initiative has warned against bilateral and regional trade agreements, pushed mostly by Europe and the US, as such agreements go well beyond traditional trade concerns and include provisions that force extensive obligations related to intellectual property and investor protection which would restrict access to medicines.
Free trade agreements threaten access to medicine by the poor in Philippines
7-Apr-2014 Focus
Ambitious free trade agreements in the Philippines would pose serious threats to access to medicines for the poor by providing greater patent rights to pharmaceutical companies, the EU-ASEAN Campaign Network said Tuesday ahead of an international meeting of pharmaceutical companies in Manila.
TTIP and the big pharma wish-list
24-Mar-2014 Commons Network
A report by the Commons Network and civil society partners shows that the pharmaceutical industry’s wish list for the TTIP is detrimental for public health, will increase the cost of medicines and undermines democratic processes
Possible retard de l’accord de libre-échange entre la Suisse et l’Inde
27-Jan-2014 RTS
Le conseiller fédéral suisse Johann Schneider-Ammann a laissé entendre samedi dans la presse alémanique que la question de la protection des brevets pourrait retarder l’accord de libre-échange avec l’Inde.
Canadians balk at longer brand-name drug patents
16-Dec-2013 CMAJ
Nearly two-thirds of Canadians oppose longer patents for brand-name drugs under a proposed trade deal with the European Union, according to a poll commissioned by the Council of Canadians.
The EU-Thailand FTA: What fate for access to medicines?
12-Dec-2013 IP Watch
Following the public outcry over the EU’s demands for stringent intellectual property rules that would dramatically raise medicines prices in India, you would expect the EU to think twice about making similar demands in future trade agreements. Yet, this is precisely what is going on now in the negotiations for a free trade agreement between the EU and Thailand.
EU-US free trade pact cause of concern for Indian pharma firms
11-Dec-2013 Financial Chronicle
There are apprehensions that TTIP would prevent Indian pharma companies to come to market with the same products - they would need to pass through several rounds of additional tests. As a result, prices will move up significantly.
Roadblocks revealed in TPP talks
13-Nov-2013
Leaked details of free trade negotiations between New Zealand and the United States show the two countries are in stark opposition on a number of key areas.
CETA is more about corporate rights than free trade
9-Nov-2013
Since announcing the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) two weeks ago Harper’s Conservatives have repeatedly labelled those questioning the deal as “anti-trade”. But this Canada-European Union accord is one part trade and four parts ‘corporate bill of rights’.
Ottawa challenged to release internal estimates of Europe free-trade drug costs
8-Nov-2013
The federal government won’t release internal documents that may predict potential higher drug costs for Canadians under new patent rules agreed to in the free-trade deal with Europe, Trade Minister Ed Fast says.
Canada-EU trade agreement presages IP reform
3-Nov-2013
The far reaching provisions of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union will have considerable impact on Canada’s IP regime.
Patents against people: How drug companies price patients out of survival
2-Oct-2013 Dissent Magazine
The struggle for access to medicine presents a legal and ethical minefield for rich and poor countries alike—one that is being fought out as humanitarians challenge corporations over intellectual property rights.
US puts unwarranted pressure on India for taking legal steps to increase access to affordable medicines
25-Sep-2013 MSF
India is facing an onslaught of political pressure from the U.S. government and pharmaceutical industry in retaliation for the country’s entirely legal actions to limit abusive patenting practices and increase access to affordable generic medicines
Thailand: Uncertainties continue to plague FTA deal with Europe
16-Sep-2013 Bangkok Post
Thai trade representative Olarn Chaiprawat has given civil society groups a confirmation that "TRIPS-plus" and drug issues will not be included in the Thai-EU FTA negotiations.
The deadly cost of secret free trade deals
8-Aug-2013
Once again, our government is negotiating a trade deal in secret — and once again, the chorus of “free market” fundamentalists is assuring us that what’s good for lining corporate pockets must be good for us all.