Fair Trade Rallies slam demands for higher medicine prices

Fair Trade Rallies slam demands for higher medicine prices before Trans-Pacific Trade talks resume in Peru

Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) talks resume in Peru next week between Australia, the US, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam. Japan will join the talks later this year.

Fair Trade groups are rallying in Sydney and Melbourne as part of International Fair Trade day to protest at proposals to increase medicines prices, increase copyright restrictions on the internet, reduce Australian content in film and television and give foreign investors the right to sue governments over health and environment laws.

Melbourne: Saturday May 11, 11 am, corner Bourke and Elizabeth Sts.

Sydney: Saturday May 11, 12 noon, Martin Place, corner Castlereagh St

“We know from leaked documents that US global corporations are driving the agenda in the TPPA talks. Pharmaceutical companies want stronger patents and higher prices for medicines, IT companies want copyright restrictions on the internet, media companies want to reduce Australian content in film and TV, and tobacco companies like Philip Morris want the right to sue governments over tobacco advertising laws,” Dr Patricia Ranald, convener of the Australian Fair Trade Investment Network, said today.

“In contrast with these demands for increased corporate rights, there is so far no agreement for governments to implement workers' rights or environmental standards,” said Dr Ranald.

“We want the Australian government to continue to resist these outrageous proposals and to support enforceable labour rights and environmental standards,” said Dr Ranald.

“We say no to corporate rights and yes to labour rights and the environment, a Fair Deal or No Deal in the TPPA.”

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