HAI Europe now expresses concerns on EU-Mercosur trade accord

All eyes are on the European Union (EU)-India trade agreement, and the repercussions it will have on access to medicines in India and for the developing countries that rely on Indian produced generic medicines, says consumer group Health Action International (HAI) International.

However, it adds, at the same time, the EU is in the process of negotiating other trade agreements that could harm or hinder access to medicines, such as this week’s negotiations between the EU and the Mercosur countries.

The negotiating positions of Mercosur countries will almost certainly be affected by how India reacts to the EU’s push for new heights of intellectual property (IP) standards. Indian resistance to EU demands for over-reaching IP standards will be crucial for the protection of health and development far beyond its own borders.