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The opposition to the “access window” medicines chapter is drawing increased press coverage. A recent article by Inside-U.S. Trade reports on the opposition, explaining that other TPP member countries “have refused to accept the U.S. access to medicines proposal or its underlying principle of a so-called ‘access window.'” The opposition to the “underlying principle” of the access window approach is notable — indicating that negotiators are refusing to discuss the proposal in general, rather than objecting to its specifics. This is likely to pose a major hurdle for the US in pushing the IP chapter forward if does not agree to remove this controversial and as of yet untested policy change.
The report notes that the opposition to the US may be “universal” among the non-TPP countries and that the “U.S. government has informally acknowledged that TPP participants have pushed back against the U.S. IPR proposals — including opposition to both patent and copyright issues.”
