NAFTA and International Public Health An Interfaith Call for Access to Medicines, May 15, 2018

NAFTA and International Public Health An Interfaith Call for Access to Medicines, May 15, 2018

Joint statement from faith leaders from Catholic, Episcopal, Methodist, United Church of Christ, Lutheran, Presbyterian traditions, and Jubilee USA Network.

Faith leaders emphasize the moral obligation to ensure access to medicines for all, especially the sick and poor, when renegotiating trade agreements like NAFTA.

Key Principles

• Support for TRIPS Agreement: Protects intellectual property rights but allows nations to take steps to ensure medicine availability.
• Affirmation of Doha Declaration: Public health must take precedence over trade restrictions.
• Commendation of U.S. stance on sovereignty in investor-state arbitration.
• Reference to May 10th Bipartisan Trade Policy Agreement (2007): Recognizes flexibility for developing countries to meet public health needs.

Call to Action

• Ensure renegotiated NAFTA does not exceed TRIPS mandates or create extended monopolies on essential medicines.
• Reaffirm TRIPS public health protections to uphold the human right to health and access to medicines globally.

NAFTA-and-International-Public-Health-An-Interfaith-Call-for-Access-to-Medicines.pdf