bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

medicines


Sandinistas say FTA bad for health
Sandinista National Liberation Front legislators will present a minority report against ratification of the FTA (Free Trade Agreement) with the United States, Nicaraguan Congresswoman Alba Palacio said.
Thai govt urged to remove medicines from FTA deals
Non governmental organizations (NGOs) yesterday made an impassioned plea to the government to remove the subject of medicines from negotiations on the proposed Thai-US free trade area (FTA), warning that Thai patients suffering from chronic conditions could be hit with sky-high costs for medication.
Open letter from civil society on the US-Thailand FTA negotiations
On 4-8 April 2005, negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Thai and the US will take place in Pattaya. Following two previous rounds in Hawaii, the US is expected to submit demands on remaining issues, the most important of which is the issue of patents. This is a sign-on statement to call on the Thai government to halt the third round of negotiations in order to conduct a through review of the outstanding points and the negotiating position towards the FTA.
Global bully goes to Guatemala
The global bully, the United States, has just coerced Guatemala, its latest victim, into repealing an important law to lower the price of pharmaceuticals and promote generic competition. The U.S. ambassador to Guatemala acknowledged that the Guatemalan law was intended to advance public health objectives. But, no matter, he said — U.S. commercial interests in the form of Big Pharma demanded that the law go.
Drug deal gone bad
A group of US companies, represented by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), has expressed concern regarding approval by the Egyptian Ministry of Health for some 500 generic versions of patented drugs.
Southern African countries have taken firm stand against EFTA demands on intellectual property rights in free trade agreement
A letter sent by South African Trade Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa to the Treatment Action Campaign in South Africa confirms that the demand of EFTA Countries (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) to include provisions on intellectual property rights relating to medicines and agriculture in the Free Trade Agreement with SACU (South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland) has been rejected.
Clash continues on US-Central America trade deal
Protection of pharmaceutical patents may not be the biggest reason the Bush administration is struggling to line up congressional votes for a free trade agreement with five Central American countries and the Dominican Republic, but it remains critical to its passage.
Egypt must resist pressures from American pharmaceuticals
The current government seems so eager to reach a free-trade agreement with the US that we fear it might be willing to forfeit Egyptian citizens’ right to health.
FTA with USA can cause division among Andean Nations
Medicine patents are threatening unity among Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru in the negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement with the United States
US yet to act on FTA amendments
The United States has yet to follow through on threats to challenge amendments made to the US-Australia Free Trade Agreement.
A world united? The US approach to the protection of regulatory data
The US has been using Free Trade Agreements to push a US-style system for data exclusivity.
Trade agreement hits snag on Guatemala law
The USTR’s Office said Friday that Guatemala violated the terms of a pending Central American trade agreement with a new pharmaceutical data law the United States objects to.
Australia-US FTA goes into effect
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
How through bilateral agreements EFTA states restrict access to medicines
US drug makers pressure Canberra
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
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
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"
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
Barring major turns, any deal emerging from the talks will be a disaster for most Colombians.
US concern poses threat to free trade deal
The United States’ continuing concern about Australian laws is threatening to delay the countries’ free-trade agreement.