Prime Minister John Key expects the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) to be signed as negotiated, despite reports the United States will demand changes on certain next-generation drugs.
Opponents of the multinational trade deal are warning the US will try to strong-arm other nations into accepting longer monopoly protection periods for drugs known as biologics.
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The director of US-based advocacy group Public Citizen Global Trade Watch, Lori Wallach, said US Trade Representative Michael Froman - under pressure from Republicans - would seek eight years' monopoly protection rather than five for biologics.
"Mike Froman has already said publicly that he will be asking the other countries to make the additional 'clarification' as he's calling it but in fact it's concessions - that it's eight years, not the five years in the text, for biologics exclusivity."
Its a perfect example of how you simply cannot trust the US in negotiations. Its also a perfect example of how "trade" deals are used to leverage and spread US political corruption. US pharmaceutical companies buy lobbyists, who buy politicians, who bully other countries on behalf of the people paying for it. And that's simply not something we should be a part of.