[A2k] House of Commons Daily Debate on ACTA transparency: Feb 4, 2010

[James Love]

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Mr. Lammy: It is current UK policy on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade
Agreement to seek the agreement of our negotiating partners to publish
the draft text. However, it is the practice in trade negotiations that
working documents are not disclosed without the consent of all the
negotiating parties. Not all parties currently agree to the release of
the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) draft text. My officials
continue to press for greater transparency with our negotiating
partners.
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http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm100204/text/100204w0019.htm#qn_126

House of Commons Daily Debates, Feb 4, 2010, Written Answers

Counterfeit Manufacturing: International Cooperation

Mr. Watson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business,
Innovation and Skills how many officials from (a) his Department and (b)
the Intellectual Property Office are planning to attend the
Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement negotiations in Mexico in January
2010. [313943]

Mr. Lammy: One official from the Intellectual Property Office (IPO)
attended the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) negotiations in
Mexico. The IPO is an executive agency of the Department for Business,
Innovation and Skills, and IPO officials represent the UK Government in
intellectual property negotiations, including ACTA.

No other officials from the Department attended the negotiations.

Mr. Watson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business,
Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2010,
Official Report, column 402W, on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade
Agreement, on what date (a) he and (b) other Ministers last discussed
the proceedings of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement negotiations;
when he next expects to meet Ministers who have a departmental interest
in the negotiations to discuss the agreement's progress to date.
[314019]

Mr. Lammy: I regularly meet ministerial colleagues to discuss various
aspects of my Intellectual Property portfolio. I have not recently met
other Ministers to discuss the proceedings of the Anti-Counterfeiting
Trade
4 Feb 2010 : Column 511W
Agreement negotiations, but relevant Ministers have been kept fully
informed and briefed on its progress where necessary.

Mr. Watson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business,
Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2010,
Official Report, column 402W, on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade
Agreement, on what date officials in his Department last met their
counterparts in other Government Departments to discuss the
Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement; and if he will make a statement.
[314028]

Mr. Lammy: Officials in the Department last met their counterparts in
other Government Departments to discuss the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade
Agreement on 26 August 2009. Since this meeting officials in other
Departments have been regularly briefed and consulted on the progress of
the negotiations. The next meeting is planned for February.

Mr. Watson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business,
Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2010,
Official Report, column 402W, on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade
Agreement, what information has been provided to businesses on the
negotiations; and if he will make a statement. [314037]

Mr. Lammy: The officials have discussed with the European Commission and
other member states ways to inform businesses and other interested
parties about the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement negotiations. As a
result of these discussions, the European Commission held a public
consultation meeting on 23 June 2008, with a second meeting on 21 April
2009 and another planned soon. In addition, regular updates, including a
summary of key elements under discussion, can be found on the website of
the Intellectual Property Office.

Mr. Watson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business,
Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2010,
Official Report, column 402W, on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade
Agreement, if he will make it his policy to seek the agreement of his
negotiating partners the publication of the latest draft held by his
Department of the anti-counterfeiting trade agreement. [314067]

Mr. Lammy: It is current UK policy on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade
Agreement to seek the agreement of our negotiating partners to publish
the draft text. However, it is the practice in trade negotiations that
working documents are not disclosed without the consent of all the
negotiating parties. Not all parties currently agree to the release of
the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) draft text. My officials
continue to press for greater transparency with our negotiating
partners.

--
James Love, Director, Knowledge Ecology International
http://www.keionline.org | http://www.twitter.com/jamie_love
Wk: +1.202.332.2670 | US Mobile +1.202.361.3040 | Geneva Mobile +41.76.413.6584