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Australia-US FTA goes into effect
2-Jan-2005 The Age
The agreement was first mooted in November 2002 and has been strongly backed by Australian Prime Minister John Howard, who claims it as a major achievement of his government. But critics have derided it as a sell-out to US interests.
IPR: Deprive Doha of all substance
31-Dec-2004
How through bilateral agreements EFTA states restrict access to medicines
US drug makers pressure Canberra
28-Dec-2004
US drug manufacturers are planning a New Year’s push to pressure Canberra to unwind initiatives to cut medicine prices.
The potential impact of US-SACU FTA negotiations on public health in southern Africa
24-Dec-2004 tralac
This Working Paper was written by Tenu Avafia, a tralac researcher, and examines the potential impact of the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between SACU and the United States from the perspective of public health.
Thailand: Academics call for temporary suspension of FTA talks with US
13-Nov-2004 MCOT
Thai academics called on the government on Friday to temporarily suspend ongoing free trade area (FTA) negotiations with the United States, and suggested it to identify impacts on the country’s intellectual property rights and agricultural products.
NGOs request "EFTA countries shall not endanger public health and food security in Southern Africa"
4-Nov-2004 Berne Declaration
Today 57 organizations sent a letter to the trade and foreign ministers of EFTA member states urging them not to include provisions that would restrict access to medicines and farmers rights under the EFTA-SACU FTA
US-Andean talks even worse than feared
3-Nov-2004 Colombia Week
Barring major turns, any deal emerging from the talks will be a disaster for most Colombians.
US concern poses threat to free trade deal
29-Oct-2004
The United States’ continuing concern about Australian laws is threatening to delay the countries’ free-trade agreement.
South Korea: Indefinite general strike planned
25-Oct-2004 GLW
Korean trade union and social organisations have worked together in recent months to stop the Japan-Korea FTA, arguing that it will result in the abolition of more regulations protecting workers rights, and more privatisation of public services. They also say the average citizens’ access to medical treatment and drugs will also be undermined by the FTA’s excuse to “protect” intellectual property rights.
Australia may bow to pressure from US drug firms on FTA
22-Oct-2004 Asia Pulse
Prime Minister John Howard may bow to a concerted campaign by American drug companies against the amendments that the government was forced into accepting upon pressure from the Labor Party.
Stiglitz: New trade pacts betray the poorest partners
19-Oct-2004
In negotiating trade agreements with Morocco, Chile and other countries, the Bush administration has used the same approach that earned us the enmity of so much of the rest of the world. The bilateral agreements reveal an economic policy dictated more by special interests than by a concern for the well-being of our poorer trading partners.
EU demands improved intellectual property protection from Israel
18-Oct-2004 Jerusalem Post
The European Commission has decided to increase pressure on Israel to adopt more stringent intellectual property protection for the benefit of EU pharmaceutical companies.
Thai civil groups want IP off trade-talks agenda with US
12-Oct-2004 The Nation
Civil groups yesterday called for intellectual property (IP) to be excluded from the second round of the Thai-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiation because of fears it would give unjustified protection to rich IP developers at the expense of Thais.
Strange article lurking at back of FTA could bring nasty surprise
4-Oct-2004 Australia National University (ANU)
HIDDEN at the back of the 1000 page Australia-US Free Trade Agreement, is a strange article, numbered 21.2(c). Usually, in a legal document such as a treaty, dispute proceedings only arise if a party has breached a formal obligation in the text.
Access to Affordable Drugs: Victims of HIV/AIDS Should Not Suffer From Trade Rules
4-Oct-2004
Botswana was warned last week by a UN Committee that trade agreements should not undermine Botswana’s ability to ensure access to affordable treatment for children or other people with HIV/AIDS.
Leaders face challenge on trade threat to PBS
27-Sep-2004
Twenty leading medical and legal experts, and seven peak health and community services organisations, will send today an open letter to John Howard and Mark Latham demanding changes to the free trade agreement with the US before the agreement is ratified in late October.
Bullying big pharma puts pressure on Australians
28-Aug-2004
US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick’s warning to Australia that an amended free-trade agreement might conflict with the letter and spirit of the original agreement was prompted by bullying from the American pharmaceuticals industry, according to a US trade adviser.
Farm tariffs, IPRs seen as main obstacles to US-Andean FTA
27-Aug-2004
Tariffs on agricultural products and definitions of intellectual property rights, particularly for pharmaceuticals, are shaping up as the most contentious issues in the free trade negotiations between the United States and three Andean nations, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Intellectual Property: We must not make any concession on medicines
24-Aug-2004
The Colombian Germán Velásquez says that it was unfair for the US to veto the Argentine advisor Carlos Correa. He claims that poor countries must continue to have access to cheap medicines even if there are trade treaties. His request is that the Doha agreement is respected.
End Days to Cheap Drugs With U.S. Trade Deal
19-Aug-2004
Australia’s ratification of a free trade agreement with the United States has sparked warnings that it represents a major win for the U.S. drug industry in blocking generic manufacturers and undermining the country’s internationally acclaimed system for lowering pharmaceutical prices.