Trade Pact May Undercut Inexpensive Drug Imports

[papau]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/12/politics/12DRUGready.html

Trade Pact May Undercut Inexpensive Drug Imports
By ELIZABETH BECKER and ROBERT PEAR

Published: July 12, 2004


ASHINGTON, July 11 — Congress is poised to approve an international trade agreement that could have the effect of thwarting a goal pursued by many lawmakers of both parties: the import of inexpensive prescription drugs to help millions of Americans without health insurance.

The agreement, negotiated with Australia by the Bush administration, would allow pharmaceutical companies to prevent imports of drugs to the United States and also to challenge decisions by Australia about what drugs should be covered by the country's health plan, the prices paid for them and how they can be used.<snip>

Only in the last few weeks have lawmakers realized that the proposed Australia trade agreement — the Bush administration's first free trade agreement with a developed country — could have major implications for health policy and programs in the United States.<snip>

Leaders in both houses of Congress hope to approve the free trade agreement in the next week or two. Last Thursday, the House Ways and Means Committee endorsed the pact, which promises to increase American manufacturing exports by as much as $2 billion a year and preserve jobs here.<snip>

[Soloflecks]

1. Grrrrrrrrrr!

So, the solution to American's outrageously high drug prices is to make sure everyone else has to pay too much as well? This will be devastating.