Campaign for Public Health Representation in Trade Policy
CPATH is coordinating the call by U.S. health organizations to include advocates
for the public’s health on the U.S. Trade Representative's Advisory Committees, and to open Committee meetings
to public scrutiny. Committee members enjoy significant influence on trade policy, according to a report by the Government
Accountability Office. Committees currently include representatives of the pharmaceutical,
tobacco, health insurance, alcohol and processed food industries. The Committees
are legally required to present fairly balanced views on trade negotiations. There are no representatives of organizations concerned with the effects of international trade on health.
Many members of Congress strongly support the goal of public health
representation in trade policy.
GAO: U.S. Trade Policy Neglects Public Health
On 10/30/07, Rep. Henry A. Waxman and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy released a GAO report which finds that U.S. trade policy under the Bush
Administration has neglected public health and the Doha Declaration, which affirms the right of WTO members to “promote
access to medicines for all.”
Formal public health input into trade policy from the public health
community has been limited, according to the GAO. U.S.T.R. receives counsel on specific sectors and issues from
fourteen “trade advisory committees.” Most have no public health representation.
Click here for GAO Report
Van Hollen/Waxman Bill Calls for Public Health Trade Advisors - Aug. 2007
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) has introduced HR 3204, to expand public health representation on trade
advisory committees, and assure an active role for Congress and the public in setting trade policy. Rep. Henry Waxman
is an original co-sponsor. CPATH will be working with allies in the coming months to build awareness of this important
bill. Please contact CPATH if you'd like to help.
Click here for Summary of HR 3204
Click here for Full Text of HR 3204
Why USTR Must Take Action to Represent Public Health
on U.S. Trade Advisory Committees: A Brief Trade and Health Timeline, 1948-2006
June 16, 2006
click here for Timetable June 2006
Six key Senators and 9 Congressional Representatives urge the
USTR to represent public health in trade negotiations.
click here for letter from key Senators and House Reps
Notes
from Meeting of Public Health Organizations and Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR)
June 12, 2006
Summary:
Public health organizations and members of Congress have asserted public health’s strong interest in serving on trade
advisory committees that influence US trade policies. The USTR’s office has agreed that public health has a legitimate
claim to be represented. On December 16, 2005, the Department of Commerce and USTR posted a Federal Register announcement
seeking public health nominees to Industry Trade Advisory Committees (ITACs) 3 (Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Health/Science
Products & Services) and 15 (Intellectual Property).
To
date, no nominees have been selected. The USTR has not responded to reasonable requests from public health groups for deadlines
on appointments. During that time, ITAC 3 has established a subcommittee on pharmaceuticals and intellectual property, which
continues to meet without public health representation.
Read a report of the meeting
HEALTH GROUPS CALL FOR REPRESENTATION May
2, 2005
Nine national health organizations called on the U.S. Trade Representative
and Secretary of Commerce to include advocates for the public's health on its Advisory Committees, and to open Committee meetings
to public scrutiny.
The
organizations are: CPATH, American College of Preventive Medicine,
American Public Health Association, American Nurses Association, California Conference of Local Health Officers, Doctors for
Global Health, National Association of Community Health Centers, Physicians for Human Rights, and Physicians for Social Responsibility.
click here for Letter Requesting Public Health Representation, May 2, 2005
click here for Press Release May 2, 2005
CPATH REPORT: INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADVISORY COMMITTEES
WARRANTING PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE REPRESENTATION May 2, 2005
CPATH
analyzes United States trade advisory committees which currently lack and warrant public health and health care and health
care representation. Statements from advisory committee reports demonstrate that they are of interest to and directly affect
the work of the Public Health and Health Care community.
click here for full report
USTR Response to Request for Public Health Representation June 2005
CPATH Briefing Paper: International Trade Advisory Committee
System Should Include Public Health Representation, September, 2004.
click here for full report
On December 14, 2005, US health groups announce a federal suit against the US Government calling for
representation on trade policy advisory committees.
click here for Press Release December 14, 2005
USTR response to notice of intent to sue. 12-05
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