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The fifth Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiating round was held in Santiago, Chile, last week. The US tabled text for an intellectual property chapter, which is not public.  Sources have reported that sections relating to patent extensions, data exclusivity, linkage and for pharmaceuticals has been left blank to be filled in later.  Inside US Trade reports that the US proposal would “give a copyright holder the authority to… stop importation of its copyrighted goods from another country” and “to prohibit temporary reproductions of copyrighted works.”

• TPP Watch. “New Leaks of TPPA Text Show U.S. is Playing Hardball. February 17, 2011.
• Inside US Trade. “U.S. TPP Partial IPR Text Goes Beyond Old FTA Provisions On Copyrights.” February 17, 2011. (Password Protected)
• U.S. Trade Representative. “Continued Progress at Fifth Trans-Pacific Partnership Round.” February 2011.

Eighteen Members of Congress have written President Obama asking for strong IP protection in the TPP.  They quote PTO Director David Kappos saying that “the appropriate starting point for the Trans Pacific Partnership Negotiations is the Korea FTA.  It is a great starting point.”  The IP provisions in the US-Korea FTA are the strongest IP provisions in any US trade agreement.

• Letter from 18 Members of Congress to President Obama

39 civil society groups asked all negotiating countries to “establish TRIPS as the maximum standard of substantive protection required by the TPP and preexisting trade agreements in the region; and assist the effective implementation of TRIPS flexibilities.”

• Letter to FTA negotiators in English
• Letter to FTA negotiators in Spanish