Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether his Department supports the request by the Least-Developed Countries (LDC) group at the World Trade Organisation for an extension of the transition period to utilise trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights' flexibilities relating to pharmaceutical products for as long as those countries remain an LDC.

The UK Government supports an extension of the transition period for least developed countries (LDCs) to comply with certain obligations regarding pharmaceutical products under the World Trade Organisation’s Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement. Extending the transitional arrangements for a time-bound period will allow LDCs time to ensure their intellectual property laws and practices conform with the TRIPS Agreement. Stimulating innovation and growth in LDCs is key, and we are working to encourage all countries to establish high quality intellectual property protection and enforcement frameworks to facilitate economic growth and participation in world trade.