3/12/2013
AFTINET's Convener, Dr Patricia Ranald writes for Working Life about upcoming Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations in Singapore.
"There is an agenda for change our domestic legislation which is being driven by US corporate and industry interests. This agenda would permanently limit the ability of governments to regulate in the public interest.
"This week I’m heading to Singapore for a meeting to which I’m not invited. Trade ministers from twelve countries will gather from 7-10 December for the last scheduled meeting for the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement negotiations. I’ll be hovering at the margins, hoping for an audience..." Read More
27/11/2013
ABC's The Business aired a short segment on the Trans Pacific Partnership and its impact on medicine prices and public health resources.
26/11/2013
During Senate Estimates last week, the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement was questioned by Senator Penny Wong (Shadow Trade Minister), Senator Peter Whish-Wilson (Greens Trade Spokesperson) and Senator Madigan (Democratic Labour Party).
26/11/2013
The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age today published the article 'US accused of war of attrition in Trade Talks'', by Peter Martin.
"Reports from the talks say US officials are refusing to budge on most of their demands, insisting that meetings go around the clock in the hope that they wear other countries negotiations down."
Trade Ministers from the 12 TPP countries will meet in Singapore on December 7-9 to make decisions about the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP). But the US is still exerting strong pressure for stronger patent laws which would result in higher medicine prices, and for investor-state dispute settlement clauses, which allow foreign corporations to sue governments over health and environment laws which are seen to 'harm' their interest. This would affect our ability to regulate in the public interest, and undermine our democracy and sovereignty.
We need to act now to ensure that these proposals are rejected.
Please send this new, updated letter to Trade Minister Andrew Robb asking him to reject proposals in the TPP which would increase medicine prices, and allow foreign investors to sue our governments.
The People's Health Movement Australia's Petition to Trade Minister Andrew Robb:
Support the 5-country proposal on patents and medicines in TPPA negotiations to safeguard access to medicines
21/11/2013
The Public Health Association is calling on the Australian Government to support efforts to protect access to medicines and public health measures in negotiations on the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA).
19/11/2013
The Trans-Pacific Partnership and Australia’s right to know
by Dr Patricia Ranald, Convener of AFTINET, for The Conversation
In the history of trade agreement negotiations, most have been undertaken in secret, justified on the grounds that the governments’ negotiating positions would be weakened if they became public.
19/11/2013
Since WikiLeaks released the draft text of the TPP's intellectual property chapter last week, there have been a number of analysis articles published, including the following:
The New Matilda asked a range of experts including academics, an activist and a public health specialist for their take on the Trans-Pacific Partnership and its implications: TPP 'A Substantial Threat To Australian Sovereignty'.
ANU lecturer Ruth Townsend published a piece on The Conversation about Australian sovereignty and investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) clauses.
When trade agreements threaten sovereignty: Australia beware
The Conversation also published an analysis of the leaked IP chapter of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and what this would mean for the public's intellectual property rights: Regional trade pact puts Australia in ‘absurd’ position, say experts
A Brisbane radio station broadcast an interview with Melanie Walker , the Acting CEO of the Public Health Association of Australia, who spoke on medicines, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, tobacco plain packaging, food labeling and alcohol health warnings.