Trade Agreements and Access to Medications Under the Bush Administration

Publication

Trade Agreements and Access to Medications Under the Bush Administration

Abstract

The Special Investigations Division of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform scrutinizes the U.S. Administration's compliance with the Doha Declaration in its pursuit of trade agreements. Despite the declaration's emphasis on protecting public health and access to essential medications, the report reveals that U.S. trade negotiators have prioritized pharmaceutical patents over the healthcare needs of developing nations. The agreements, including CAFTA and others, impose provisions that delay approval of generic drugs, mandate patent extensions, link drug approval to patent status, restrict compulsory licensing, prohibit parallel importation, and expand patent protections. These provisions hinder developing countries' access to affordable medications, contradicting the Doha Declaration's principles and favoring the financial interests of multinational drug companies.