July 14, 2021: German Chancellor Angela Merkel faces US protests tomorrow at her government’s opposition to the suspension of 20-year monopoly patents on COVID-19 vaccines and treatments at the World Trade Organisation. A “die-in” will be staged with a giant Merkel puppet lurking over dozens of body bags representing the millions of lives on the line.
July 12, 2021: More than 50,000 Australians have signed petitions asking the Australian Government to support changes to trade rules that would help most people in the world get access to COVID-19 vaccines. Negotiations have started and the Australian government still has not done so. We need to increase the pressure and tell our local MPs to support these changes.
July 5, 2021: As expected, TC Energy has lodged an Investor-State Dispute Settlement claim against the US government, using the legacy provisions of the former North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), after the Biden-Harris administration cancelled the permit for the project on their first day, January 20, 2021.
June 30, 2021: Current trade rules give pharmaceutical companies 20-year monopoly patents on COVID-19 vaccines and other medical products, which are delaying access for low-income countries. This is why over 100 WTO member countries are supporting the South African and Indian proposals for a temporary waiver of these rules during the pandemic.
June 28, 2021: Professor Rachel Thrasher from Boston University Law School argues that, while the US is supporting a rule change for COVID vaccines, the US and other WTO members should also support the waiver of intellectual property rights on COVID treatments and equipment.
The Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network (AFTINET) is a network of community groups and individuals that campaigns for fair trade based on human rights, labour rights and environmental sustainability.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced graduate passionate about global justice. The position is for 28 hours per week for one year, renewable. Remuneration, including 10% superannuation, is $75,130 per year.
June 21, 2021: Avima Iron Ore Limited, an Australian-owned mining company, launched a US$27 billion claim against the Republic of Congo (RoC) in the International Chamber of Commerce on June 4, 2021.
MEDIA RELEASE
June 18, 2021
“We welcome the fact that the Australian and UK governments have responded to community concerns about secrecy and yesterday published the Agreement in-Principle (AIP) for the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement,” Dr Patricia Ranald, AFTINET Convenor, said today.
June 17, 2021: In an oped in The Conversation, AFTINET Convenor Dr Patricia Ranald sets out the big dangers and the continuing undemocratic process in the in-principle agreement for an Australia-UK Free Trade agreement announced overnight on June 15, 2021.
MEDIA RELEASE
June 15, 2021
“The announcement of ‘in-principle’ agreement for an Australia-UK free trade agreement continues the unacceptable government secrecy about the details of the agreement,” Dr Patricia Ranald, AFTINET Convenor said today.