The Geneva working group on GATS rules is planning to have Ministers at the WTO Hong Kong conference, adopt an Annex to GATS article 13 on Government Procurement.
It appears that, for the moment, among the strongest movements opposing the GATS, and other regulatory trade rules, are those that are spreading at the local and regional level.
The Chair of the TRIPS Council Ambassador Tony Miller of Hong Kong China is to hold further consultations on a proposal submitted by Nigeria on behalf of the African Group on an amendment to the TRIPS agreement.
It appears that, for the moment, among the strongest movements opposing the GATS, and other regulatory trade rules, are those that are spreading at the local and regional level.
A year ahead of the Hong Kong Ministerial conference of World Trade Organisation, the French National Network of elected officials against GATS & GATS- FREE local governments , held its first Genral Assemblee in Grigny (Rhône) on Dec 3 2004.
Participants stressed that access to medicines and health services are vital for the Asian region, especially since this region has the largest share of the world's people.
The Asian Regional Workshop on the WTO TRIPS Agreement and Access to Medicines: Appropriate National Policy Responses was held in Kuala Lumpur on 28-30 November 2004.
