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medicines

Pro-FTA advisers a worry for HIV groups
28-Sep-2006
HIV/Aids groups claim that if Thailand signs a free-trade agreement (FTA) with the United States, the access to life-saving treatment for HIV positive people could be considerably compromised.
Groups worried over FTA with US
11-Sep-2006
For people living with HIV/AIDS, access to anti-retroviral drugs is a crucial factor in helping them lengthen their lives.
S Korea, US end third round of FTA talks without ’practical progress’
10-Sep-2006
South Korea and the United States ended a third round of free trade talks on Saturday, acknowledging that they failed to make "practical progress" in certain "sensitive areas" such as automobiles, agricultural products and pharmaceuticals.
Eli Lilly’s CEO calls for Japan-US Economic Integration Agreement
31-Aug-2006 Eli Lilly and Company
Eli Lilly and Company chairman and CEO, Sidney Taurel, today made the case for a Japan-US Economic Integration Agreement, and urged private groups to help lay the groundwork for such a free-trade deal. He also expressed optimism regarding a favorable conclusion of the US-Korea negotiations over a free-trade agreement, arguing that "both sides understand the symbolic as well as the practical benefits of what they are trying to accomplish."
Patent or patient? How Washington uses trade deals to protect drugs
23-Aug-2006 Financial Times
The controversy over the impact of bilateral trade agreements on public health poses particular difficulties for the Geneva-based WHO, which is gearing up for the highly political election of a new director-general.
US welcomes S Korea’s new drug policy within FTA: Seoul official
21-Aug-2006
South Korea and the United States ended the first of a two-day meeting on pharmaceuticals and medical equipment on Monday, with Washington reiterating its acceptance of Seoul’s new drug policy plan within an envisioned free trade agreement (FTA), South Korean officials said.
Progress on HIV drugs threatened by new trade pacts
20-Aug-2006 IPS
In the midst of the world’s biggest HIV/AIDS conference here, close to a hundred activists launched a noisy protest over bilateral free trade agreements, which they say elevate patent protections above the right to life-extending antiretroviral drugs.
Free trade agreements, intellectual property and access to medicines
18-Aug-2006
Patent and data protection rules in free trade agreements have a profound impact on the ability of developing countries to access life saving medicines of assured quality.
US welcomes agreement on drug pricing with Korea, denies it was concession
12-Aug-2006
The United States welcomed Friday an agreement reached with South Korea on a pharmaceutical pricing system that had impeded bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) talks but denied it was a concession on its part.
Gains seen in US-South Korea trade talks
11-Aug-2006
South Korea and the United States reported an apparent breakthrough in free-trade talks Friday after bickering over pharmaceuticals cut short negotiations last month.
US accepts South Korea’s new drug-pricing policy
11-Aug-2006
The United States has accepted South Korea’s new drug-pricing measure aimed at offering quality medicine at cheaper prices, brightening the future of the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on pharmaceutical issues, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare yesterday.
Seoul, Washington to hold FTA negotiations in third country
11-Aug-2006
Seoul and Washington reportedly have a plan to hold separate negotiations on the controversial issue of pharmaceutical pricing in a third country, ahead of the third round of FTA talks to be held in the U.S.
A Korea-U.S. trade agreement: what is at stake?
31-Jul-2006 The Hankyoreh
This examines macro-economic issues, intellectual property and patent protections, the potential impact on pharmaceuticals, and other issues at stake in the U.S.-Korea FTA.
Local drug makers may lose out under US FTA
17-Jul-2006 The Edge Daily
Malaysia’s generic drug manufacturers might find it more difficult to conduct business if the US’ negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) are influenced by the strong US pharmaceutical lobby there.
US boycotts discussions on medicines in FTA talks with S Korea
14-Jul-2006 Hankyoreh
Negotiators from the United States have boycotted discussions on medicines in free trade talks with South Korea, in an apparent protest against Seoul’s new drug-pricing move, Seoul’s chief negotiator to the talks said Thursday.
Agreement scarce, dispute persists in SK-US free trade talks
14-Jul-2006 Hankyoreh
South Korea and the US have agreed to establish a standing committee on sanitary standards for agricultural and food products, which will make it easier for the US to ask for expanded trade of genetically modified crops. However, negotiations on pharmaceuticals have hit a snag, with neither side willing to budge.
Accuse U.S. of violations regarding Free Trade
3-Jul-2006
The president of the Latin American Pharmaceutical Industries, Hochi Vega, accused Washington today of violating prior agreements instrumented for implementing the DR-CAFTA free trade accord.
USA pressing hard for US-Thai FTA
29-Jun-2006
It is believed that the US was behind the unexpected transfer of William Aldis, who published an article in the Bangkok Post on Jan 9, urging Thailand to think carefully before signing the Free Trade Agreement with the US, because restrictive intellectual property rights under the bilateral trade agreement would prevent Thailand from using affordable locally produced generic drugs. He said anti-viral HIV drugs would be extremely expensive after the FTA went into force. Local manufacturers are of the same view.
As US-Korea trade talks begin, Sughrue Mion helps Korean pharmaceutical companies enter US markets
21-Jun-2006
Sughrue Mion PLLC, a leading global intellectual property law firm, announced today that the firm continues to see a strong interest from Korean pharmaceutical companies in understanding the US patent system. As talks kicked-off last week in what is expected to be a fast-tracked bilateral trade agreement between the US and the Republic of Korea, protection of intellectual property and the ability to compete effectively in the US market are even more important.
Health officials vow to continue close collaboration with WHO
21-Jun-2006
Public health officials working closely with the World Health Organisation yesterday vowed to continue their strong collaboration with the WHO despite widespread reports of possible interference by Washington in the international body’s administrative affairs. The US government was allegedly behind the abrupt removal of William Aldis, the WHO representative to Thailand, after he wrote of possible adverse impacts Thailand could suffer if it went ahead and signed a free trade agreement with the US in its present state.