Pharmaceuticals in spotlight: TPP chief negotiators to meet in Atlanta

Pharmaceuticals in spotlight: TPP chief negotiators to meet in Atlanta

ATLANTA — Lead negotiators for the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact will meet Saturday in Atlanta for talks.

     The discussions are expected to center on how long to extend intellectual property protection to data on newly developed drugs. The hope is that resolving the contentious issue will pave the way for a framework agreement at ministerial talks scheduled for next Wednesday in the southern U.S. city.

     At the last ministerial talks in Hawaii at the end of July, negotiators were unable to iron out their differences in three areas: dairy products, cars and intellectual property rules for pharmaceuticals.

     The U.S., which is home to many drugmakers, is demanding protection for 12 years, while Australia wants no more than five years. Japan are others are hoping to persuade the two sides to settle on an eight-year protection period.

     Dialogue on cars will be also held among four countries — Japan, the U.S., Canada and Mexico — in parallel with the meeting of chief negotiators.

Pharmaceuticals in spotlight: TPP chief negotiators to meet in Atlanta