US lawmakers urge Trump and Indian Prime Minister Modi to address IP and trade barriers

Even as Indian drug firms continue to reel under plans by the Trump administration in the USA to repeal and replace some parts of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare, four prominent US lawmakers have outlined a number of concerns, including inadequate intellectual property rights protection, reports The Pharma Letter’s India correspondent.

US House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, Ranking Member Richard Neal, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch and Ranking Member Ron Wyden have urged President Donald Trump to advocate for market-based reforms and eliminate trade and investment barriers during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the White House.

In a letter, the four have urged the US President to personally address India’s significant and longstanding barriers to trade and investment. Regarding IPR protection, the four Congressmen said they continue to have concerns about India's system for providing protection for patents, trademarks, and copyrights.