'UK-India FTA at risk over drug patent dispute', 27 August 2023

The trade deal between the UK and India is facing uncertainty due to disagreements over the former’s request for stricter regulations on the manufacturing of affordable generic medicines, reported The Telegraph.

India’s negotiators have opposed the proposal to extend drug patents before allowing the production of less expensive alternatives. This proposal aims to protect the interests of pharmaceutical giants against generic rivals.

Disputes related to drug patents, along with India’s push for increased visas for nurses and care workers, have cast a shadow over the prospects of an imminent announcement.

At the heart of the dispute over Indian drug patents is the thriving generic drug sector in India, in contrast to the pharmaceutical excellence of the UK. This contrast has led to the development of globally pioneering medications like Covid vaccines.

According to reports, a comprehensive agreement on a free-trade deal might not be reached before the year’s end. Prime minister Rishi Sunak is set to travel to India next month for talks with his counterpart Narendra Modi.

The UK is aiming to persuade India to accept what are known as TRIPS-plus arrangements, which provide longer patent protection for drugs than what is typically covered by the international agreements India has endorsed. This information was leaked from a draft of the free trade agreement...