Brussels, 01/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - EU and Thai negotiators will seek solutions which fairly serve at the same time both the objectives of protection of intellectual property rights (IPRs) and access to medicines.
At the second round of free-trade talks between the EU and Thailand, in Chiang Mai from 16 to 20 September, the negotiation teams discussed trade in goods, rules of origin, intellectual property, public procurement, services, investment and sustainable development. The discussions helped both sides better understand the proposed draft texts on which the next round of talks will be based, says the Commission in a press release.
On the sensitive chapter of intellectual property rights, both sides agreed that appropriate IPR protection can and should co-exist effectively with access to medicines. Both sets of negotiators, therefore, promised to seek solutions serving the purpose of IPR protection and access to medicines at the same time and equally effectively. The two parties also agreed to negotiate an ambitious chapter on sustainable development.
On the sidelines of discussions last week, almost 5,000 NGOs, led by Act Up, Oxfam International and Health Action International, and Thai civil society associations demonstrated in Chiang Mai for access to medicines in the agreement being negotiated. Activists especially do not want the agreement to contain clauses on IPR which go beyond the requirements of the WTO TRIPS agreement, so as not to strengthen the multinational pharmaceutical companies and create further obstacles to access to cheap generic medicines. A system of universal health cover, in place since 2002, extends to 99% of the Thai population.
Between now and the next round of talks, scheduled to take place in Brussels from 9 to 13 December, the two parties will seek to set out parameters for arrangements for tariff liberalisation (goods) and for exchange requests for services, investment and procurement. Both sides have agreed to conclude an agreement “as quickly as possible”. When negotiations began in March, they gave themselves two years.
The EU represents almost 10% of Thailand's foreign trade and is the country's third largest trading partner. Bilateral trade was worth €32 billion in 2012. EU investment stock in Thailand exceeded €14 billion in 2011.
Chemical goods, machinery and equipment are the EU's main offensive interests. Elimination of non-tariff barriers in Thailand is also crucial for other manufacturing sectors. The EU also has offensive interests in services and investment.
Following on from Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam, Thailand is the fourth South-East Asian partner with which the EU is negotiating a free-trade agreement. (EH/transl.fl)