THE TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP An overview

History 2005: Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement, a free trade agreement, signed by Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Singapore 2008: USA, Australia, Vietnam, Peru express an interest in joining the trade bloc 2010: Malaysia joins negotiations 2012: Canada, Mexico formally join talks 2013: Japan joins membership, Taiwan expresses interest

Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiators Member countries are in green, observers in yellow.

Current TPP Negotiations Cover… Customs, subsidies Financial services, telecommunications Intellectual property State-owned enterprises Labor, environment Much more

So, what? Numerous politicians, citizens, organizations objecting to language, secrecy, agreement as a whole Internet surveillance, food safety, job security, property rights to corporations, arbitration, patents are just a few of the concerns identified This agreement is being negotiated in secret, and the American government intends to “fast track” it through Congress, limiting a democratic discussion to 90 days with no amendments allowed

Where do we come in? Médecins Sans Frontières – and thus Friends of MSF – and Universities Allied for Essential Medicines have been campaigning for years to improve access to pharmaceuticals MSF specifically objects to the intellectual property language of the TPP, which will have devastating effects on their ability to access generic medicines for their patients It is only that protectionist language which we are campaigning against

Why It Matters The language of the TPP would allow pharmaceutical companies to extend patents by years for modifications to drugs, even if they do not increase efficacy Generic producers will not be able to produce medicines at the low prices that have saved hundreds of thousands of lives Patents not only on drugs, but surgical techniques and treatments, dramatically impairing access to treatment Increasing secrecy regarding innovations will only slow down further research, delaying future cures

What We’re Going To Do Run an awareness campaign to inform UBC on the dangers of the TPP regarding access to essential medicines Collect signatures for petitions against the TPP Inspire discussion, dialogue, openness on this important issue!! For more information: