WTO Negotiators See End in Sight Over Emotional Issue of Drugs for Poor Na

WTO Negotiators See End in Sight Over Emotional Issue of Drugs for Poor Nations
By Naomi Koppel Associated Press Writer
Published: Aug 27, 2003


GENEVA (AP) - After almost two years of emotional wrangling, World Trade Organization members drew close Wednesday to an agreement to allow poor nations to seek alternatives to expensive patented drugs for killer diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

Diplomats at the forefront of discussions said they were almost at agreement on the issue, which has been deadlocked since December because of opposition from the United States - a situation that provoked criticism from pressure groups that the WTO puts corporate profits in rich countries ahead of the suffering and death of people in poor ones.

Negotiators are working on a "chairman's statement" that would accompany last year's agreement and would set out how the measure would be used, to calm the fears of drug companies.

U.S. officials declined to comment, but developing countries said they were ready to agree. (snip/...)

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