Australia appears to be caving in to USA in the Trans Pacific Partnership
The commentary also says that Australia has worked with Japan and the US on a revised version of the controversial annex which deals with government regulation of medicine prices, including Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, while most other countries are opposing it.
Trade Minister Robb said last week that Australia was prepared to agree to give investors the right to sue governments over Australian laws which they claimed harm their investment, which we have experienced in the Philip Morris case.
It is also worrying that the government appears to have agreed with the US refusal to support proposals from the World Intellectual Property Organisation, which assist developing countries to get access to cheaper generic medicines. Most other countries have agreed to support these proposals
TPP talks in Singapore rocked by leaked document By Dr Patricia Ranald (AFTINET Convener) 11 DEc 13,I arrived in Singapore after a week in Bali at the World Trade Organisation talks, at which the US tried but did not succeed in blocking developing countries, led by India, from taking measures to ensure they can make basic food available for the poorest in their countries. A compromise was reached which means that developing countries can continue to do this. AFTINET working group member Peter Murphy was also at the WTO meeting and has done a longer report……
The TPP negotiations here in Singapore are of course still secret, and governments are not making any public statements. The US has set the agenda of bilateral and small group meetings. They are desperate to pressure others to agree to their proposals so they can announce that the agreement is on track to be finalised by the end of the year.
Two internal documents from a country in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement negotiations were leaked to Huffington Post and Wikileaks and published on Monday. The documents are a chart outlining the positions of each of the twelve countries on many issues being discussed in Singapore, and an account of the state of negotiations at the end of the Salt Lake City round late last month. These raise doubts about the target of finishing the negotiations this year, and show deep ongoing divisions and resentment at US pressure.
On the controversial US proposals for longer patents which would result in higher prices for medicines, and stronger copyright, the commentary says that “countries must be prepared for attempts deployed by the US to force closure of different areas of the intellectual property chapter during the Singapore negotiations.”
The commentary also says that Australia has worked with Japan and the US on a revised version of the controversial annex which deals with government regulation of medicine prices, including Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, while most other countries are opposing it. This seems to indicate possible concessions on the PBS by Australia, despite government assurances to the contrary. We cannot really test these assurances until the text is released to the public.
Trade Minister Robb said last week that Australia was prepared to agree to give investors the right to sue governments over Australian laws which they claimed harm their investment, which we have experienced in the Philip Morris case. He said this was on the condition that there were exceptions for health and environmental laws and that the US would give increased market access in return. The commentary reveals the so-called exceptions may only be part of the preamble to the investment chapter and not legally enforceable.
The chart itself shows that while Australia has rejected most of the US patent proposals, it appears to have agreed to broader criteria for granting of patents, which could include patenting of living organisms. It is also worrying that the government appears to have agreed with the US refusal to support proposals from the World Intellectual Property Organisation, which assist developing countries to get access to cheaper generic medicines. Most other countries have agreed to support these proposals.
The talks are scheduled to finish on Tuesday evening, which will be early morningWednesday Australian time. AFTINET will report on the outcome of the talks.
Media Coverage:
- Dr Patricia Ranald and Dr Matthew Rimmer on ABC Radio National PM‘Leaked docs show long negotiations ahead for trans-Pacific trade deal’
- Dr Patricia Ranald on ABC Radio National Drive program ‘New leak from Trans-Pacific Partnership talks’
- Sydney Morning Herald: ‘South Koreans free to sue thanks to new free trade agreement’
- Sydney Morning Herald: ‘Coalition blocks Senate from secret details of Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal’
- Sydney Morning Herald: ‘Leaked memo shows steep concessions for Pacific trade deal’………
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