Latest news with #TRIPS-plus
New Indian Express
29-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
UK trade pact does not restrict India's ability to regulate drug pricing: Govt
It said in a note that the FTA reaffirms India's right to fully use TRIPS (trade related intellectual property rights) flexibilities, including compulsory licensing and parallel imports. 'It explicitly upholds the Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health, ensuring continued access to affordable medicines, says the ministry. The ministry has informed that India retains full sovereign authority to issue compulsory licences to address public health emergencies, unaffordable pricing, or unmet needs. Under compulsory licensing, the government can allow others to use patented inventions without the patent holders consent, especially when such use is related to public health. The government has clarified that the India-UK trade pact has no clause that restricts India's use of compulsory licensing in any form. 'While voluntary licensing is acknowledged under the pact as a tool for access and collaboration, it is not a precondition for compulsory licensing,' says the government. The FTA, according to the ministry, allows measures necessary to protect public health, nutrition, and national interest. 'The FTA ensures that India's right to regulate and intervene in the pharmaceutical sector for access and affordability is fully retained,' the ministry of commerce has said. It further said that India continues to be recognized globally for its public health-oriented IP regime. It says that the FTA does not impose any TRIPS-plus obligations that restrict exports of generics, nor does it change existing provisions on parallel importation, Bolar exemption, or government use of patents.
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
US drug price cuts may push pharma giants to raise prices in India: GTRI
US President Donald Trump's proposal to slash prescription drug prices by 30% to 80% could prompt global pharmaceutical companies to push for higher prices in lower-cost countries like India, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) warned on Monday. The plan, which involves signing an executive order implementing a "Most-Favoured Nation" (MFN) pricing policy, is likely to lead to a worldwide price recalibration, according to GTRI Founder Ajay Srivastava. 'It is likely to trigger a global price recalibration, with pharmaceutical giants intensifying pressure on lower-cost markets like India to raise their prices by tightening patent laws through trade negotiations,' Srivastava told news agency PTI. As drugmakers face price caps in developed markets, they are expected to target emerging economies to offset losses and recover research and development costs. Srivastava noted that trade agreements will increasingly become the new battleground for pharma intellectual property rights. 'The battleground is no longer just legal, it has moved to trade negotiations. India must respond with strategic clarity and unyielding resolve,' he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like AI guru Andrew Ng recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around in 2025 Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo India's resistance to so-called TRIPS-plus provisions — stricter intellectual property protections often demanded in free trade agreements (FTAs) — has been key to maintaining affordable drug access. These provisions include data exclusivity, extended patent terms, patent linkage, and broader patentability rules that could hinder generic competition. The GTRI emphasised that India's current patent regime fully complies with the WTO's TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) agreement. It allows quick approval of generics by relying on existing clinical data, does not permit evergreening, and safeguards public health. 'From antiretrovirals for HIV to affordable cancer therapies, India's pharmaceutical industry is vital to global health,' Srivastava added. 'The world depends on India's generics. Preserving this model is not only in India's interest — it is a moral and global necessity,' the think tank said. Saurabh Agarwal, Tax Partner at EY, echoed similar concerns, stating that while the move may benefit American consumers in the short term, it could lead to pricing pressures on countries like India. 'The move promises major savings for American consumers but could face industry pushback and cause price increases in lower-cost countries as manufacturers seek to recover losses and R&D costs,' Agarwal said. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
