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India FTAs & medicines


India must resist US pressure on generic drugs, African leaders to tell Modi
So far, the NDA government has been a mute spectator to the US pharma strategy of forcing Indian generics manufacturers to produce only what is required for Indian consumers and abandon the export of cheap drugs to Africa
USITC Report on India (#2) now available
The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) has published a report on IPR policy transparency by India’s new government
Drugs row threatens health sector budget
Ahead of a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Modi and German Chancellor Merkel this week, European manufacturers had already protested India’s patents policy, arguing that it doesn’t protect sensitive technology.
At Obama-Modi meeting in New York, MSF urges India to protect affordable medicines for millions
Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warned that US pressure for India to change its intellectual property policies could result in millions of people around the world losing their lifeline of affordable medicines.
Top US lawmakers on trade urge action on India’s treatment of IPRs
The top members of US Congress and the Senate responsible for international trade issues urged the Obama administration to push for changes to India’s handling of intellectual property rights and technology
Opposition mounts against regional trade pact threatening human rights
Less well known than the notorious Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is engendering growing opposition because of its similar oppressive provisions.
EU, India working to resolve trade row over generic drugs
The EU and India are taking steps to end a trade row sparked by an EU ban of 700 Indian pharmaceutical products after New Delhi cancelled talks on a free trade accord earlier this month.
Why South Africa’s health minister is so worried about India caving in to big pharma
A big supplier of cheap lifesaving drugs to developing nations, India admirably balances public health needs with private profits and innovation. But it is under pressure to change this model.
India defers FTA talks with EU over ban of 700 drugs
Objecting to the ban of around 700 pharma products by the European Union, India said that it has called off a scheduled meeting of chief negotiators of the two sides on the proposed free trade agreement
Pressure intensifies on India over software and pharma patent protection in key Asian trade negotiations
Recently leaked documents show that India’s policies on software and pharmaceutical patents are firmly on the RCEP agenda.
Civil Society raises major concerns on India’s engagement with the massive RCEP trade deal
As the eighth round of negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade agreement take place in Kyoto, Japan this week, farmer’s groups, trade unions, civil society and patient groups are urging the Indian Government to halt the negotiations, make the negotiating texts public and hold consultations with all the relevant stakeholders, in light of the potential negative impact this agreement could have on access to medicines, livelihood of farmers, quality public services and overall social and economic development of the country.
Will a new US-led IP empire in India put access to medicines at risk?
Prof Brook K Baker, Professor of Law and Northeastern University, cautions that the Modi government’s accelerating flirtation with the US and its investors is dangerous to hundreds of millions of people worldwide whose lives depend on Indian generics
DNP+ response to RCEP negotiations on Intellectual Property ongoing in Thailand
Japan is pushing for intellectual property rules in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership that will undermine and delay access to affordable generic medecine in Asia.
Médecins Sans Frontières warns about IP inclusion in Asian FTA
The inclusion of intellectual property in the ongoing negotiations of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership between 16 countries, most of them Asian, is raising concerns about “TRIPS-plus” measures that could jeopardise generic drugs production in India, according to Médecins Sans Frontières.
Possible retard de l’accord de libre-échange entre la Suisse et l’Inde
Le conseiller fédéral suisse Johann Schneider-Ammann a laissé entendre samedi dans la presse alémanique que la question de la protection des brevets pourrait retarder l’accord de libre-échange avec l’Inde.
EU-US free trade pact cause of concern for Indian pharma firms
There are apprehensions that TTIP would prevent Indian pharma companies to come to market with the same products - they would need to pass through several rounds of additional tests. As a result, prices will move up significantly.
US puts unwarranted pressure on India for taking legal steps to increase access to affordable medicines
India is facing an onslaught of political pressure from the U.S. government and pharmaceutical industry in retaliation for the country’s entirely legal actions to limit abusive patenting practices and increase access to affordable generic medicines
India-EU FTA won’t hit generic drugs industry: EU envoy
The much-hyped bilateral trade and investment agreement (BTIA) between India and the European Union (EU) would not impact the Indian generic drugs industry or lead to a change in the country’s patent law, João Cravinho, EU ambassador to India, said on Friday.
India-EU FTA will imperil lives, local industry, say activists
A large number of people living with HIV, cancer patients and health activists took to the streets of Delhi today asking government of India not to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) as it would be detrimental to the interests of tens of thousands of people like them in the country.
Cambodian people’s statement on the EU-India free trade agreement on generic drugs
We, Cambodian garment workers, sex workers, entertainment workers, people living with HIV, LGBTs, university students, feminists and human right activists from different networks and organisations came together to express our concern about the threat posed by the forthcoming EU-India free trade agreement to the lives of millions of people in Cambodia and many other developing countries across the world.