[Ip-health] public health sign-on for 2/14 Ways & Means trade hearing

[Ellen Shaffer]

--
[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
USTR Schwab will be the sole witness at the Ways
& Means Committee's hearing on trade tomorrow,
Weds. Feb. 14. To add your organization's
signature to the following public health statement, please send me an email=
.

For individuals, please send your name,
title/organization, city and state.  Thanks! - Ellen

Public Health Principles and Objectives for International Trade Negotiation=
s



  Submitted to the U.S. Trade Representative and

The Ways and Means Committee, U.S. House of Representatives
Hearing on the U.S. Trade Agenda

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Public Health Principles and Trade


Global and bilateral trade negotiations present
important opportunities to promote a healthy,
safe and just global community.  However, current
U.S. trade policies have contributed to social
and economic inequality, both within the U.S. and
among our trading partners, factors strongly
associated with poor health outcomes. Trade
agreements provide a basis for altering domestic
U.S. laws and policies that protect the public=92s
health and access to health care and medicines.



Federal legislation mandates that the United
States Trade Representative receive domestic
input into trade negotiations from interested
parties outside the federal government.  There
have been limited opportunities for public health
advice in reviewing trade policies, and as a
result trade negotiations do not reflect a public health perspective.



Federal law also mandates Congressional oversight
of U.S. global trade negotiations.  Presidential
Trade Promotion Authority undermines
Congressional oversight and has limited Congress=92
ability to ensure that trade agreements promote social and economic equity.

We urge Congress and the U.S. Trade
Representative (USTR) to adopt the following
enforceable Public Health Objectives, as a basis
for amending pending trade agreements, and to
guide any future agreements, and to initiate a
review of bilateral, regional and multilateral
agreements for their adherence to public health principles.


Public Health Objectives for Global Trade



1.      To assure democratic participation by
public health and transparency in trade policy by:

a.      Appointing to all relevant trade advisory
committees representatives of organizations that
work to assure equitable access to affordable
health-related services and products, and promote
the health of individuals, communities and populations,

b.      Opening all proceedings and documents of
trade advisory committees to the public, and

c.      Requiring USTR=92s consultation with all
relevant committees of the House and Senate in
the development, implementation, and
administration of U.S. trade policy, without
renewing presidential trade promotion authority.
2.      To develop mutually beneficial trade
relationships that create sustainable economic
development for the U.S. and our trade partners
in an increasingly interdependent world.
3.      To recognize the legitimate exercise of
government sovereignty to protect population
health, and to ensure that countries do not
weaken or reduce, as an encouragement for trade,
sound policies that contribute to health and well
being, including laws on public health, the environ=ADment and labor.
4.      To exclude tariff and
nontariff  provisions in trade agreements that
address vital human services such as health care,
water supply and sanitation, food safety and
supply, and education, including licensing and
cross-border movement of personnel in these fields.
5.      To exclude tobacco and tobacco products,
which are lethal, and for which the public health
goal is to reduce consumption, from tariff and
nontariff provisions of trade agreements,
including advertising, labeling, product regulation and distribution.
6.      To exclude alcohol products, which
present serious hazards to public
health.  Policies designed to reduce the harm
caused by alcohol products should not be subject
to compromise in exchange for other  trade benefits.

7.      To eliminate intellectual property
provisions related to pharmaceuticals from
bilateral and regional negotiations, as these are
more appropriately addressed in multilateral
fora, and promote trade provisions which enable
countries to exercise all flexibilities provided
by the Doha Declaration on Public Health,
including issuing compulsory licenses to
manufacture patented pharmaceuticals as a remedy for excessive pricing.



  Original organizational signers:

Center for Policy Analysis on Trade and Health (CPATH)

American Public Health Association

California Public Health Association =96 North

Chinese Progressive Association

Church World Service

Essential Action

Health Care Without Harm

Missionary Oblates Justice, Peace/Integrity of Creation Office

National Legislative Association on Prescription Drug Prices

Physicians for Social Responsibility

Ellen R. Shaffer, PhD, MPH, Co-Director
Center for Policy Analysis on Trade and Health (CPATH)
98 Seal Rock Drive
San Francisco, CA 94121-1437

phone: 415-933-6204
email: ershaffer@cpath.org
mobile: 415-680-4603
www.cpath.org
fax: 415-831-4091
--