Image: EFF (CC-BY)
This morning, trade ministers from the twelve countries negotiating the Trans Pacific Partnership jointly announced that “we have successfully concluded the Trans-Pacific Partnership.” The U.S. Trade Representative has also released a summary of the agreement that has been reached.
Negotiations over data protection of biologic medicines held up the conclusion of the TPP for much of the weekend. According to the Wall Street Journal, the “complicated” deal requires countries to provide five years data exclusivity, and gives the option to use regulatory structures to grant additional exclusivity up to another three years. During the press conference this morning, USTR Froman said that the compromise recognizes all countries are committed to incentivizing innovation in this sector, but that they do this through different systems (see video).
Global health campaigners are critical of the deal (see statements from Public Citizen, Doctors Without Borders). Senator Hatch, who has been a vocal supporter of a 12 year period of data exclusivity for biologics, issued a statement saying the deal fell “woefully short” of his expectations.
