Damaging impact of two proposed TRIPS-plus measures in RCEP trade deal

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a regional trade agreement being negotiated between the 10 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries and Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.

In terms of impact, RCEP will cover nearly 50% of the world’s population – including the most impoverished, vulnerable and marginalized people living in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

The leaked text reveals that the draft IP chapter proposes the premature adoption of intellectual property obligations by the region’s Least Developing Countries and thus, exposing a total disregard of the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable segment of the international community. People living with HIV, treatment providers and public interest groups across the world have written to countries negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement to protect the transition period available to LDCs.