Trade Agreements and Pharmaceutical Patent Protection: Implications for the Governance over Pharmaceutical Products in Canada

Danalyn Byng

doi:10.25071/1929-8404.34702

Abstract

This paper was prepared for a course on Canadian health policy. Its purpose is to expose the harmful ramifications of international trade agreements on the pharmaceutical market in Canada and the governance surrounding this market. This paper will explore the various implications that trade agreements have on the affordability of drugs, the strength of intellectual property protection, and the transfer of authority and influence from government to “Big Pharma.” This paper will unravel the reality that trade agreements are not beneficial to the Canadian people looking to access an affordable pharmaceutical market, but rather, act quite contrary to this. Facts will show that trade agreements work to put money into the pockets of large brand-name pharmaceutical companies in the forms of billions of dollars of revenue and profit. This paper will encourage readers to question the feasibility of extending patent legislation for brand-name pharmaceutical products, the increasing role of trade agreements and the pharmaceutical industry in Canada, and the substitutability of brand-name drugs over cheaper generic alternatives.

Highlights

This paper will explore the theme of Globalization and Trade Deals; the laws and regulations of international trade deals that govern the intellectual property protection of pharmaceutical products
Canada and the European Union have been negotiating a new trade agreement called the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic & Trade Agreement (CETA). The intention of this agreement is to see to reducing tariffs and trade restrictions; it does include a series of further revisions to Canada’s laws that govern intellectual and patent protection for brand-name drugs
Proponents and opponents to Canada’s ever-lengthening patent protections laws have argued heatedly about what benefits and downfalls they can see that these changes will have on Canada’s economy, consumer behaviour, and public and private sector health care costs

Summary

Introduction

This paper will explore the theme of Globalization and Trade Deals; the laws and regulations of international trade deals that govern the intellectual property protection of pharmaceutical products. The intention of this agreement is to see to reducing tariffs and trade restrictions; it does include a series of further revisions to Canada’s laws that govern intellectual and patent protection for brand-name drugs. Proponents and opponents to Canada’s ever-lengthening patent protections laws have argued heatedly about what benefits and downfalls they can see that these changes will have on Canada’s economy, consumer behaviour, and public and private sector health care costs.

Results

Conclusion