On Tuesday, 25 October 2011, Canada made the following intervention at the WTO TRIPS Council on ACTA under agenda item O, “Trends in Enforcement”.
In relation to the WTO Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, Canada asserted the following,
ACTA is also consistent with the TRIPS Agreement and the Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health and will not hinder the cross-border transit of legitimate generic medicines.
OCTOBER TRIPS COUNCIL MEETING
October 24-25, 2011
Canada’s Intervention for Agenda Item O (Trends in Enforcement)• The ACTA represents an important initiative to more effectively combat the growing and internationally recognized problems of large-scale trademark counterfeiting and copyright piracy and achieve progress on enhancing IP enforcement.
• Canada understands very clearly that increased trade in counterfeit and pirated goods has negative impacts for knowledge-based economies. Globally, this costs billions of dollars each year in lost revenues and trade. Canada, like many other countries, suffers consequences from the trade of these goods which have a negative impact on our economic growth and the health and well-being of our citizens.
• The ACTA sets new standards for the enforcement of existing IP rights which are consistent with and complementary to those provided in the TRIPS Agreement.
• In encouraging higher standards, there is no intention to exclude any country from joining efforts to combat counterfeiting and piracy. In fact, the agreement was negotiated with a view to be inclusive and attract accessions from other countries.
• The ACTA fosters mutually beneficial cooperation between partners by facilitating information exchange, such as statistical data or best practices, as well as capacity building and technical assistance, where appropriate.
• ACTA is also consistent with the TRIPS Agreement and the Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health and will not hinder the cross-border transit of legitimate generic medicines.
• Canada will continue to work closely with our ACTA partners, and any other interested partners, so that together, we stop– once and for all– the negative impacts of trade in counterfeit and pirated goods on our societies.