Government urged to delay TRIPs agreement<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Consumer Foundation (YLKI) urged
\nthe government on Monday to postpone realization of its
\ncommitment to the Uruguay Round trade liberalization agreement on
\ntrade-related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPs).<\/p>\n
Indah Suksmaningsih, the foundation's chairwoman, said
\nIndonesia should review and renegotiate its position at the
\nupcoming multilateral trade talks in Seattle, United States, and
\nask the World Trade Organization (WTO) to postpone TRIPs
\nimplementation in the country.<\/p>\n
\"Other developing countries, namely Thailand and the
\nPhilippines, have postponed their TRIPs commitment to the year
\n2005. These countries are more developed than Indonesia, so why
\ndon't we ask for a similar postponement until our industries are
\nready?,\" she said.<\/p>\n
She said the foundation submitted on Sept. 24 its
\nrecommendation to government representatives.<\/p>\n
TRIPs cover trademarks, copyrights, patents, geographical
\nindications, industrial designs, layout of integrated circuits
\nand trade secrets.<\/p>\n
The agreement, set to come into force next year, allows WTO
\nmembers to patent a product and its process to prevent
\nindividuals and companies from making, using, offering for sale,
\nselling or even importing a product without the owner's consent.
\nPatents will be effective for 20 years, and the manufacture will
\nstipulate the product's price.<\/p>\n
Indah said TRIPs in pharmaceuticals, which are dominated by
\ndeveloped countries, would lead to inflated prices of medicines
\nin developing countries. She said industries in such countries
\nwould no longer be able to copy and produce drugs locally without
\npaying patent fees.<\/p>\n
\"This would severely hurt Indonesian consumers, as they have
\nto pay higher prices for drugs,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Indah said the WTO must consider the impact of the agreement
\non drug prices, especially in poor countries, because commercial
\ninterests should not dictate public health issues.<\/p>\n
She said the TRIPs agreement would not protect traditional
\nresource rights in the production of indigenous medicinal herbs
\nfrom piracy by foreign multinational drug companies.<\/p>\n
The foundation, together with Federation Consumer
\nInternational which groups 247 organizations in 110 countries,
\nalso called for an assessment of the social impact of trade
\nliberalization at the third ministerial meeting in November.<\/p>\n
YLKI executive Tini Hadad said the WTO should set up a
\nmechanism to allow international non-governmental organizations
\nand consumers to take part in its trade policy-making. (01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-urged-to-delay-trips-agreement-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}