Gore on Free Speech

[James Love <love@cptech.org>]

Vice President Gore was widely quoted when he responded to the HIV/AIDS
demonstrators by saying he favored free speech.  He might be asked then
why on April 30, 1999 the USTR cited the South African government's speech
at the World Health Organization as a barrier to US Trade:

http://www.ustr.gov/releases/1999/04/99-41.html

"During the past year, South African representatives have led a faction of
nations in the World Health Organization (WHO) in calling for a reduction
in the level of protection provided for pharmaceuticals in TRIPS."

Perhaps Mr. Gore could ask USTR Charlene Barshefsky to refraim in the
future from citing the expression of opinion in a political forum as a
basis for trade sanctions.

Mr. Gore might also inform the USTR that South Africa never in fact called
for a "reduction in the level of protection" in TRIPS, but simply spoke in
favor of reasonable interpretations of the agreement, and for
implementation of policies like compulsory licensing and parallel imports
which are legal under the TRIPS. 

  Jamie

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James Love 
Center for Study of Responsive Law | Consumer Project on Technology 
P.O. Box 19367, Washington, DC 20036 | http://www.cptech.org
Voice 202/387-8030 | Fax 202/234-5176 | love@cptech.org