US accepts WTO amendment to enhance access to drugs

The United States Saturday accepted an amendment to the intellectual property agreement of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to enhance access to medicines for developing countries.

"Our acceptance of this amendment is an important step in the global effort to provide the best access to life-saving drugs," said U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman who is here for the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference.

"This one more instance shows how positive trade rules can meet the needs of developing countries, especially those who currently face health crises," he added.

The amendment to the WTO Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) allows countries to override patent rights when necessary to export drugs to developing countries grappling with HIV/AIDS, malaria or tuberculosis because they cannot produce drugs for themselves.

The amendment will be formally built into the TRIPS Agreement when two thirds of the WTO members have ratified it.

Source: Xinhua