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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.
US ’behind’ WHO official’s ouster
21-Jun-2006 Bangkok Post
Washington was behind the abrupt removal of a World Health Organisation representative to Thailand after he wrote of possible adverse impacts to Thailand of a free trade agreement with the US, a source said yesterday.
World health: A lethal dose of US politics
17-Jun-2006 Asia Times
An Asia Times Online investigation reveals that at the time of his death, World Health Organization (WHO) director general Lee Jong-wook, a South Korean national, had closely aligned himself with the US government and by association US corporate interests, often to the detriment of the WHO’s most vital commitments and positions.
Song of the sirens: Why the US-Andean FTAs undermine sustainable development and regional integration
14-Jun-2006 Oxfam
US free trade agreements with Peru and Colombia, as well as the possible agreement with Ecuador, were negotiated under the promise of great opportunities in the world’s richest market, but the truth is that these agreements will have a devastating impact on the livelihoods of small farmers, public health, and the regulation of investment to protect the public interest.
Malaysians protest against free trade talks with US
13-Jun-2006 TWN
As Malaysia and the United States began their first round of talks on a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), they were confronted by a group of Malaysian protesters concerned that the agreement will cause the country more harm than good.
UN committee strongly urges Morocco to evaluate impact of the US-Morocco FTA
10-Jun-2006 3D
Morocco came under review last month by the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. During this process, the UN Committee raised concerns about the effects of the United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on access to affordable medicines and the enjoyment of the right to health in the country.
Ministry fears effects of FTA on healthcare system
6-Jun-2006 Hankyoreh
South Korean consumers will pay more for pharmaceuticals if US demands on a free trade agreement between the two countries are met, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
South American Ministers vow to avoid TRIPS-plus measures
1-Jun-2006 TWN
The Ministers of Health of ten South American countries issued a joint declaration on intellectual property committing themselves to avoid "TRIPS plus" provisions in bilateral and regional trade agreements, to facilitate the use of compulsory licensing and parallel importing and to avoid broadening the scope of patentability and the extension of patentable areas.
Bad blood over FTA
15-May-2006
Australia’s monopoly blood processor, CSL, has backed Red Cross calls for a ban on plasma imports and warned against opening up the nation’s supply network to overseas companies.