[A2k] Heading towards TRIP-Plus-PLUS through World Customs Organisation (WCO/SECURE)?

[nath@southcentre.org]

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Heading towards TRIP-Plus-PLUS through World Customs Organisation (WCO)/=0D
SECURE?=0D
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Dr. Yash Tandon, Executive Director, South Centre in his Editorial =E2=80=
=9CWIPO,=0D
WCO, Intellectual Property and Border Guards=E2=80=9D assesses the far-reac=
hing=0D
implications of the WCO/SECURE for developing countries.=0D
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The standards included in the provisional SECURE on "IPR Legislative and=0D
Enforcement Regime Development" represent a significant departure from the=
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existing standards of the TRIPS Agreement. It represents yet another=0D
attempt by developed countries to promote a "TRIPS-Plus-Plus" agenda on=0D
international border enforcement through the backdoor.=0D
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Although the SECURE Standards are termed by the WCO as "voluntary", in=0D
future these are likely to evolve into mandatory standards, as happened in=
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the case of the model provisions of Framework of Standards to Secure and=0D
Facilitate Global Trade (SAFE) adopted in 1995 and revised in 2001 and=0D
2004.=0D
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Read the full Editorial at:=0D
http://www.southcentre.org/southbulletin/Issue15-16May.pdf=0D
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In FRENCH:=0D
http://www.southcentre.org/southbulletin/Issue15_Editorial_WCU_FR.pdf=0D
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In SPANISH:=0D
http://www.southcentre.org/southbulletin/Issue15_Editorial_WCU_ES.pdf=0D
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Dr. Xuan LI, Coordinator, Innovation and Access to Knowledge Programme,=0D
South Centre makes a very significant observation in her Op-Ed and her=0D
article =E2=80=9CSECURE: A Critical Analysis and Call for Action=E2=80=9D:=
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The standards included in the provisional SECURE on "IPR Legislative and=0D
Enforcement Regime Development" represent a significant departure from the=
=0D
existing standards of the TRIPS Agreement. It represents yet another=0D
attempt by developed countries to promote a "TRIPS-Plus-Plus" agenda on=0D
international border enforcement through the backdoor. Although the SECURE=
=0D
Standards are termed by the WCO as "voluntary", in future these are likely=
=0D
to evolve into mandatory standards, as happened in the case of the model=0D
provisions of Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade=
=0D
(SAFE) adopted in 1995 and revised in 2001 and 2004.=0D
=0D
Read the full Op-Ed at:=0D
http://www.southcentre.org/southbulletin/Issue15-16May.pdf=0D
In FRENCH: http://www.southcentre.org/southbulletin/Issue15_OpEd_WCU_FR.pdf=
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In SPANISH:=0D
http://www.southcentre.org/southbulletin/Issue15_OpEd_WCU_ES.pdf=0D
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Best regards,=0D
Vikas Nath=0D
Head - Media and Communication=0D
South Centre=0D
Geneva