Cablegate: Trips Public Health: Canada Understands Usg

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS OTTAWA 000156

SIPDIS

DEPT PASS TO USTR CBURKY
GENEVA FOR USTR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CA ETRD USTR
SUBJECT: TRIPS PUBLIC HEALTH: CANADA UNDERSTANDS USG
POSITION, BUT DECLINES TO PARTICIPATE IN MORATORIUM

REF: (A) OTTAWA 0007 (B) STATE 265619

Sensitive but Unclassified

1. (SBU) Econ officer spoke with Catherine Dickson, Director
of the Information and Technology Trade Policy Division at
the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(DFAIT), to follow up on Ref B letter from Ambassador
Zoellick to Minister for International Trade Pettigrew.
Dickson noted that Pettigrew had a frank phone discussion
with Ambassador Zoellick on the TRIPS negotiations and the US
moratorium, among other issues, on Friday, January 10.

2. (SBU) The GOC was frustrated with the December
negotiations in Geneva and had reluctantly joined the effort
to forge a consensus with proposed language that would expand
the scope of diseases. Dickson stated that Canada
understands the US' position on this issue, especially given
the large research-based pharmaceutical industry in the US.
She recognizes that the US moratorium may be a useful interim
step, but noted that "for tactical reasons" Canada would not
follow suit with a moratorium of their own at this point.
The GOC remains committed to a multilateral solution and will
continue to work with the US and other nations. Pettigrew is
drafting an official reply to Zoellick's letter, and Dickson
promised to share a copy with the Embassy.
CELLUCCI

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