bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

medicines

FTA ’first step to destroying PBS’
26-Jul-2004
The Medical Journal of Australia, published by the Australian Medical Association, this week carries two articles claiming the free trade agreement (FTA) will undermine the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Bilateral Treaties Undermine Rights
25-Jul-2004 Bilateral Treaties Undermine Rights
Bilateral trade treaties have hit stormy waters in recent weeks, drawing criticism from French President Jacques Chirac, a leading world economist and human rights groups alike.
How US is turning AIDS into big business
21-Jul-2004 How US is Turning Aids Into Big Business
The reason for President Museveni’s renewed vigour to support US ideologies in the battle against HIV/Aids is becoming clearer after Bangkok, Thailand.
In New Trade Pacts, U.S. Seeks To Limit Reach of Generic Drugs
14-Jul-2004
As public-health groups urge wider use of generic drugs to lower the cost of treating AIDS and other diseases in developing countries, U.S. trade negotiators — prodded by the drug industry — are taking the opposite stance in new trade pacts, seeking to strengthen protections for costlier brand-name drugs.
US and France clash over cheap Aids drugs
13-Jul-2004
The US and France clashed on Tuesday over allegations by President Jacques Chirac that Washington was seeking to use bilateral trade agreements to reduce developing countries’ access to cheap medicines for diseases such as HIV/Aids.
UN human rights expert urges Peru, US to protect health in any trade deal
13-Jul-2004 UN human rights expert urges Peru, US to protect health in any trade deal
As the United States and Peru negotiate a bilateral trade pact, a United Nations human rights expert has urged them to ensure any agreement includes public health safeguards so that essential drugs do not become unaffordable for millions of Peruvians.
Cheap HIV Drugs: Scepticism over Thaksin’s pledge
12-Jul-2004
Critics voiced doubt yesterday over Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s promise to provide equitable access to life-saving drugs for all people with HIV/Aids in Thailand, saying it was a pipe dream while disputes over patented drugs remain unresolved.
Reports highlight costs of free trade deal
28-Jun-2004 Reports highlight costs of free trade deal
Politicians from Australia’s opposition party could try to derail the Australian-US Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA) after a Senate select committee claimed the deal could push up drugs prices and give copyright owners in Australia even more protection than they enjoy in the US.
Prescriptions may rise 30% under FTA: academic
26-May-2004
The free trade agreement with the United States would lead to Australians paying 30 per cent more for prescription drugs, a leading American academic warned today.
FTA undermines principle of affordable drugs for all
25-May-2004 FTA undermines principle of affordable drugs for all
The Australian Senate should delay implementing legislation for the Free Trade Agreement with the US. Countries such as Brazil and Thailand, with large generic pharmaceutical industries, are looking to Australia for leadership in countering this US bilateral push for global uniformly of high pharmaceutical prices through aggressive intellectual property (IP) protection.
Drugs May Tie Up FTAs
11-May-2004
Disagreements over trade in pharmaceuticals may bog down pending free trade agreements between the U.S. and foreign nations.
USA-Morocco deal may extend drug patents to 30 years
4-Apr-2004
A free trade agreement due to be signed between Morocco and the USA by the end of this year could threaten access to medicines, several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) warned last week.
FTA Would Hurt Thais, Expert Warns
28-Mar-2004
A free trade agreement with the United States would lead to a broader application of intellectual property rights that could hurt Thais — from farmers to internet users — an expert has warned.
TRIPS-plus through EFTA’s backdoor
20-Mar-2004
The Free Trade Agreements concluded between the four member states of the European Free Trade Association ¬(EFTA) - Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein - and a number of developing countries contain provisions on the protection of intellectual property rights (IPRs) which go far beyond the obligations already imposed on these countries in the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Bilateralism in intellectual property
14-Mar-2004
This paper examines the way in which bilateral trade negotiations (Bilateral Investment Treaties and Bilateral Intellectual Property Agreements) are being used by the USA and others to build more extensive protection for intellectual property than that set out in the WTO TRIPS Agreement.