Revised agenda for Feb 24 USTR Special 301 hearing

Here is the REVISED agenda for the Special 301 hearing on February 24. Public Citizen has been added to the list of witnesses, and USTR now lists the names of the speakers for the various trade associations. Unlike recent years, the level of participation by major trade organizations is significant.

SPECIAL 301 PUBLIC HEARING
February 24, 2014 – 10:00 a.m.

Office of the United States Trade Representative
1724 F Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20508

The Special 301 Hearing is open to the public. Members of the press are welcome to attend.
Continue Reading

Uncategorized

NFTC, a US trade association, asks USTR to sanction China for issuing and enforcing “junk patents” (2014 submission)

A February 7, 2014 Special 301 submission from the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) asks USTR to bring trade sanctions against China for granting and enforcing “junk patents.” The NFTC also wants patent enforcement to be strickly a private civil remedy (Contrast to the USTR demands that countries implement linkage between drug registration and patents), and complains about China rules that would require employers to more fairly compensation the Chinese inventors they Continue Reading

Uncategorized

US International Trade Commission Hearing, “Trade, Investment, and Industrial Policies in India: Effects on the US Economy”

Next week, the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) will hold a two-day hearing on “Trade, Investment, and Industrial Policies in India: Effects on the US Economy.” The first session will take place Wednesday, February 12, 2014 at 1:00pm and the second session will convene on Thursday, February 13, 2014 at 9:30am. Both sessions will be held at the ITC in the Main Hearing Room (room 101) at 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC.

Continue Reading

Uncategorized

Industry use of WHO Model List of Essential Medicines as defense against patent abuses

The following are some quotes by countries, companies, academics and other actors stating, suggesting or implying claiming that drugs not on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (WHO EML) should not be subject to a compulsory license.

Bayer. Political Principles.

http://www.bayer.com/en/innovation-requires-investment.aspx
Political Principles.
Innovation requires investment.
Good ideas must be worthwhile.

Continue Reading

Uncategorized

Blogs and Press coverage of Pharma/Medicine device industry lobbying on South Africa patent reform (pharmagate)

Boseley, Sarah. 17 January 2014. “South African pharma firms accused of planning to delay patents law reform.” The Guardian. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/17/south-african-pharma-accused-delay-patents-law-reform

De Wet, Phillip. 17 January 2014. “Motsoaledi: Big pharma’s ‘satanic’ plot is genocide.” Mail & Guardian. http://mg.co.za/article/2014-01-16-motsoaledi-big-pharmas-satanic-plot-is-genocide/

Continue Reading

Uncategorized