Howard may drop FTA amendment (Australia)

THE Howard Government is considering abandoning an amendment of the US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that Labor insisted was needed to keep medicine prices in check. Acting Prime Minister Mark Vaile yesterday confirmed the "evergreening" amendment negotiated by former Labor leader Mark Latham could be tossed out after intense lobbying by the US pharmaceutical industry.

The medicines industry says the provision - designed to stop drug companies from extending medicine patents to fend off cheaper generic competitors - was one of a number the features that was harming investment. "We will have a look at it, if (the evergreening issue) is raised by the Americans," Mr Vaile said. "(But) the US will have to prove that Labor's evergreening amendment is commercially detrimental, not just philosophically detrimental."


Under the evergreening amendment, pharmaceutical companies are subject to multimillion dollar fines if they are found to have stopped other companies from introducing cheaper drugs. Health Department secretary Jane Halton will travel to Washington on January 13 to discuss the issue ahead of a formal review of the FTA in March.


http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17718849%255E1702,00.html

destruction of their country? When are the people going to get sick of it? For some reason I've always thought of them as being more intelligent and as having sounder moral judgement than this place. (Remember, I live in Nebraska so I know that a large chunk of this country is full of shit.)

Just wondering.

The Bush administration, under pressure from the US medicines industry, is mounting a vigorous campaign for changes to the agreement, amid claims that Australia is breaching the spirit of the year-old pact. Health Department secretary Jane Halton will be grilled about these concerns when she meets senior US officials in Washington on January 13.

Ahead of a formal review of the deal in March, Mr Vaile has already been lobbied by US Trade Representative Rob Portman. Mr Latham, when Opposition leader, insisted that the Government insert the "evergreening" amendment during last-minute negotiations over the free trade pact in mid-2004.

John Howard, who did not have control of the Senate at the time, was forced to accept the amendment. Labor argued that under the Government's deal, the drug companies would be able to prevent the arrival of cheaper generic drugs, increasing costs for Australians.

US government sources confirmed last night that Washington was concerned about the way Australia was administering the free trade deal. Labor health spokeswoman Julia Gillard was travelling to the US last night and is likely to seek briefings on the agreement while in Washington. Washington is increasing pressure on the Government to modify the trade deal to avoid any downturn in investment opportunities.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17717361%255E601,00.html