[x-pubpol] TPP update - latest leak

[Joly MacFie]

http://tppwatch.org/2011/03/14/another-leak-confirms-extreme-us-demands-in-trans-pacific-partnership-deal/

Leaks continue to beleaguer the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership
Agreement (TPPA) even as the participating governments circle the wagons
around the negotiating process, said Professor Jane Kelsey, a critic of the
proposed TPPA.

The full text of the US chapter on intellectual property has been posted by
Knowledge Ecology International (see:http://keionline.org/node/1091).

“This latest leak includes material not contained in the previous leak of
the US intellectual property text last month and confirms the extreme
nature of US demands”, Jane Kelsey said.

“For example, according to analysts the US text would stop countries from
adopting practices that India and the Philippines have used to prevent the
‘evergreening’ of patents, which further restricts the production of
cheaper generic medicines.”

This disclosure comes less than two weeks before the Singapore round of
negotiations begins on 23rd March.

Intellectual property negotiations are expected to be among the most
controversial items on the agenda, where the New Zealand and US positions
on key aspects of the text remain polarised.

“This leak confirms how important it is for New Zealand’s negotiators to
remain firm and not buckle to the US, not just to safeguard our own
sovereignty but also for other countries that are caught up in the US’s
free trade web,” said Professor Kelsey.

However, there are suggestions that Australia and New Zealand may support
the US position on Geographical Indicators, in the hope it will benefit
their agricultural exporters.

“Ironically, the latest leak comes after the governments involved in the
negotiations rejected calls for greater transparency from prominent civil
society groups across Australia, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand and the
United States. Early information from Singapore indicates they are
tightening up the already token “stakeholder” access provided during
previous rounds.”

“Despite, or perhaps because, of that attitude, the leaks continue to flow.
Governments should read the writing on the wall and open the process to
genuine democratic scrutiny,” said Professor Kelsey

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