[Ip-health] 'All costs, no benefits: How TRIPS-plus intellectual property rules in the US-Jordan FTA affect access to medicines'.

[Elizabeth Wabuge]

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Dear All,

Oxfam has just released a new paper 'All costs, no benefits: How
TRIPS-plus intellectual property rules in the US-Jordan FTA affect access
to medicines'.  The paper shows how the USA continues to impose TRIPS-plus
rules on developing countries, thus preventing poor people from accessing
inexpensive, generic medicines. Jordan was required under the terms of its
WTO accession package and its free trade agreement (FTA) with the USA to
introduce TRIPS-plus rules. Medicine prices have increased drastically,
and TRIPS-plus rules were partly responsible for this increase.
Furthermore, stricter levels of intellectual property protection have
conferred few benefits with respect to foreign direct investment, domestic
research and development, or accelerating introduction of new, effective
medicines. Medicine prices will continue to rise in Jordan, but the
country will be unable to use TRIPS safeguards to reduce their cost. Other
developing countries implementing or considering FTAs with TRIPS-plus
rules should consider the consequences for public health.

http://www.oxfam.org/en/policy/briefingpapers/bp102_jordan_us_fta

Please feel free to circulate.


Best wishes

Elizabeth Wabuge
Oxfam International Trade Coordinator
OXFAM International
15, rue des Savoises
1205 Geneve
++41 (0) 22 321 7517(w)
++41 (0) 22 321 27 53(fax)
++41 (0) 765936046 (mobile)



Visit the web site at http://www.oxfam.org
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