Secretive US Trade Deal Could Endanger Global Health Gains

Friday, December 13, 2013

WASHINGTON — As a major free trade agreement nears the end of negotiations, the United States appears to be doubling down and even strengthening its demands for restrictive new provisions that public health advocates warn would significantly curtail access to affordable medicines and health care in developing countries.

Internal documents recently published by WikiLeaks have painted a picture of an intransigent U.S. increasingly frustrated by the slowness of negotiations around the proposed 12-member Trans-Pacific Partnership. Talks toward the supersized free trade area, which would cover around 40 percent of the global economy, have dragged on for four years, and on Tuesday wrapped up another unsuccessful round in Singapore.

Health and development advocates worry that the TPP, which is being seen as a blueprint for future U.S. trade deals, would give unprecedented powers to the pharmaceutical industry.

Source: Mintpress News (link opens in a new window)

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