The UK and India have decided to work together to resolve the deadlock on the issue of Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights (Trips) and public health, an issue which has the potential to hold up negotiations in other areas at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Visiting British secretary of state for trade and industry, Patricia Hewitt, said the UK was in favour of retaining flexibility in the list of diseases under the Doha declaration on public health.
The issue, which was to be resolved by December 31, 2002, was left hanging because the US had refused to agree to a wider interpretation on disease-coverage under the declaration.