E-DRUG: US striving to find appropriate balance in Asia-Pacific free trade talks (2)
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Dear E-Druggers,
I had the 'unfortunate' opportunity of attending the IPR negotiation as a
resource, in one of the rounds of the TPP negotiations.
I think the key phrase in the Washington Post is "..stronger patent
protection FOR United States Drug Manufacturers", which is very one sided
considering it is a trade negotiations that involves 11 countries (for now).
We should not underestimate negotiators from the various developing
countries, and think that they are not in the know with regards to what they are getting themselves into with regards the TPPA. Countries, apart from US, in the TPP are hoping for a fairer playing field where IPR is concerned.
The IPR chapter should not LOCK developing countries forever and should
allow for some flexibilities in times to come.
NGO's who are campaigning hard has provided a balanced view of the TPPA.
With the TPPA, patent could be extended beyond the current 20 years and with
really little additional innovations. Evergreen of patent is hard at work
here. The key argument by the US is that stronger protection will lead to
innovation; then why are there not much innovations of rare diseases? The
IPR "flexibilities" accorded by the WTO will be gone forever.
Exchanging more policy views in the 17th round would only be another
'wearing down' tactic by the US, as the TPP countries have been exchanging
policy views for a LONG time already. Countries have been highlighting
their concerns to the US and for the US to come up with a new proposal; and
as yet nothing in sight. Concerns like "patent linkage", "Access Windows'
etc. still remained in the text. This is not a trade negotiation!
The TPP may or may not reduce tariffs for innovator pharmaceuticals, but it
certainly will delay the arrival of definitely less costly generics into the market.
The above views are my own and does not represent that of my country.
Wong Wai See
Pharmacist
Brunei
ycwong@brunet.bn