SYDNEY -- With the U.S. now out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the remaining 11 members have effectively agreed to suspend rules involving pharmaceutical date protection sought by Washington as they try to revive the regional trade pact.
During a three-day meeting here through Wednesday, the countries' top TPP negotiators unanimously supported suspending a clause on data exclusivity -- a rule that prevents competing versions of a new drug from entering the market for a certain period of time. The U.S. had secured an eight-year window under the original trade deal, which would enormously benefit major pharmaceutical companies based there.
