Copyright 1999 The Washington Post
The Washington
Post
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December 3, 1999, Friday, Final Edition
SECTION: OP-ED; Pg. A40
LENGTH: 256 words
HEADLINE:
For the Record
BODY:
From remarks
by U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky in Seattle Wednesday:
There are two initiatives that are somewhat separate from the
WTO proceedings which the president announced today. One has to do with
increased market access for the least-developed countries--that is, the poorest
countries, the largest concentration of which, as you know, is in sub-Saharan
Africa. . . . The United States will commit to enhanced and
preferential market access for imports from the least-developed countries and in
addition will promote very substantial technical assistance and capacity
building functions. And to that end . . . the president is meeting as we speak
with the heads of the multilateral institutions like the World Bank, the IMF and
others. . . .
The second initiative . . . has to do with
HIV/AIDS and intellectual property rights. There has been a
growing concern among poor countries which are facing a health crisis emergency,
particularly in respect to HIV/AIDS, with respect to the
availability and affordability of medicines, AZT being an example. We faced the
question of the intersection between health policy and intellectual
property rights protection with respect to South
Africa and, in particular, with respect to the
HIV/AIDS crisis in South Africa. And in that
case, we found a means to ensure that the minimal requirements of WTO agreements
in this area could be met while providing flexibility for South
Africa to ensure the more ready availability of lower-priced
medicine.
LOAD-DATE: December 03, 1999
