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US advises developing country FTA partners not to follow WHO IP plan
Developing countries that have free trade agreements (FTAs) with the United States received an email in the form of a “démarche” from the US government before the 4-8 December 2006 meeting of the WHO Intergovernmental Working Group on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property Rights saying that it had become apparent that the WHO was trying to go beyond its competency and address issues which could have impact on the scope and effect of FTAs.
Free trade deal may fast track nanotech
Australia may be forced to rush through inadequately tested and unsafe medical nanotherapies because of its free trade agreement with the US, a health technology regulation expert says.
CPTech hosts post-election FTA strategy session
Last Thursday at CPTech a packed audience and 8 panelists discussed strategies for addressing the access to medicine implications of bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) between the US and other countries.
FTA drug talks in Seoul
Korea and the United States plan to hold talks next week on drug policy issues surrounding an envisioned bilateral free trade agreement (FTA).
US makes proposal on FTA screen quota issue: sources
With the fourth round of talks underway for a proposed free trade agreement (FTA), the US has reportedly made a proposal regarding protections currently in place on the South Korean film industry.
Internal memo shows Health Minister obstacle to FTA
South Korea tried to cut a deal with the United States to break the stalemate over their bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) talks but an internal dispute nixed the attempt.
Korea demands recognition for generic drugs
A Korea-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) for pharmaceuticals is likely to speed up in the fourth round of the FTA talks, which will begin place Monday on Cheju Island.
Data exclusivity regulations in India
New Indian data exclusivity patenting regulations will severely hinder generic AIDS drugs manufacturing in India, and thus less people will have access to AIDS therapy globally. The world’s poor overwhelmingly make up this population with lack of access. Because of this, moral human rights and distributive justice approaches should compel India to take an equity-oriented approach in access to AIDS medicines and reject data exclusivity regulations currently under discussion.
US FTA may cost drug industry $1.2 billion: gov’t
A proposed free trade agreement with the United States is expected to cost as much as 1 trillion won (US$1.2 billion) in damage to the South Korean pharmaceutical industry if the US proposal for the deal is accepted, the South Korean government said.
Aids activists bring patent-drug fight to US
The Thai Network of People Living with HIV/Aids will launch the country’s first campaign abroad against the Thai-US free-trade agreement (FTA) from tomorrow to October 29 in US cities, including San Francisco, New York, Washington and Chicago.
Playing our own game
Sripai Noonsee was in despair after her latest attempt to find a job at an electronics factory at Bang Kadee Industrial Estate ended in failure like so many others. She has been jobless for many months.
Dominican pharma reiterates US demands exceed DR-CAFTA stipulations
The Dominican Association of Pharmaceutical Industries denounced yesterday as “abusive demands” the requirements recently posed by the United States Trade Representative, prior to implementing the Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA).
Pro-FTA advisers a worry for HIV groups
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
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’
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
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
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
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
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
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.