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Disagreements over intellectual property and agricultural provisions (as well as concerns over the unfolding EU debt crisis) have led to an impasse in trade negotiations between the EU and the Latin American trade bloc Mercosur.  Latin American countries object to TRIPS plus provisions on patents, copyrights, data exclusivity, and border measures proposed by the EU.  According to Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest, “intellectual property concerns primarily come from Brasilia, which fears further restrictions will inhibit their production of generic drugs and their ability to break patents in the occasion of national health crises.” 

The EU proposal would also require the protection of geographical indications.

According to Professor Daniel Gomez, Chair of Biobusiness at the Quilmes National University in Argentina, the EU proposal includes a 10 year period of data exclusivity, as well as patent term extensions for up to a total of 25 years. It also includes measures similar to the EU Regulation 13/83/2003 that recently led to controversial seizures of legitimate antiretroviral medicines (and which have been challenged at the WTO).

The next round of negotiations will take place in Brussels, July 4-8.

News and Blogs:

• Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest. “EU, Mercosur Talks Struggling to Stay Alive.” June 22, 2011.
• Raymond Colitt for Reuters. “EU-Mercosur trade talks nearing stalemate.” June 14, 2011.
• Mercopress. “EU-Mercosur Trade Talks Are Frozen On the Edge of the Cliff.” June 14, 2011.
• Don’t-Trade-Our-Lives-Away Blog. “EU demanding TRIPS plus in FTA with Mercosur.”  (Quoting Professor Gomez.) June 21, 2011.

Further general information on the EU-Mercusor Trade Negotiations

• EU webpage
• OAS webpage