US trade rep airs concern over licensing of pharma products

The Office of the United States Trade Representative has communicated its concern to Sen. Manuel A. Roxas III about possible legislation regarding compulsory licensing of pharmaceutical products.

According to Assistant US Trade Representative for Asia-Pacific and Pharmaceutical Policy Barbara Weisel, who was recently in the country to attend the two-day ASEAN Economic Ministers Retreat, she had met with Roxas to discuss a range of political and economic issues.

Weisel specifically emphasized to Roxas, the US government’s concern that any policy or legislation regarding compulsory licensing of pharmaceutical products should not impinge on the rights of US pharmaceutical firms.

Roxas was a former trade and industry secretary whose pet project was providing cheap generic medicines for Filipinos.

Weisel was unable to meet with current Trade and Industry Secretary Peter B. Favila to discuss the same issue.

However, according to Favila, the concern of US pharmaceutical firms had previously been brought up during an earlier meeting with the deputy USTR.

Favila assured that the Philippines acknowledges the right of US pharmaceutical firms, as well as other foreign pharmaceutical firms, to enjoy patent coverage for their products.

Proposals on compulsory licensing of pharmaceutical products would only cover medicines whose patents have expired and have become part of the public domain.

Favila also sought to reassure the US that the executive branch has done its part to maintain the incentives of locators in the Clark Special Economic Zone and that the Arroyo administration continues to talk with the legislative branch to pass the bill restoring the incentives to Clark locators.

Weisel, during her short visit to the country, also met with American business locators in Clark who reiterated their frustration about the long delay in the passage of the bill restoring their incentives.

Weisel, thus, warned the government that with the increasing competition from other Asian countries like China and even Vietnam, the Philippines needs to ensure its competitiveness.