TRIPS PUBLIC HEALTH: CANADA UNDERSTANDS USG

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