PhRMA appeals for USTR action on damaging foreign practices

US lobbying group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) on Friday urged the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to take immediate action to address serious and growing market access and intellectual property barriers in top overseas markets.

In its submission for USTR's annual Special 301 Report, PhRMA called on the Trump administration to name Canada, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia as "Priority Foreign Countries" – a designation reserved for countries with the worst market access barriers and the most damaging intellectual property practices.

"When foreign countries impose trade barriers and fail to value new inventions, they threaten US manufacturing and jobs," said PhRMA senior vice president for international advocacy Brian Toohey. "Damaging price controls in Canada, Japan, Korea and many other countries are jeopardizing American exports and limiting access to new medicines," he explained.