Cablegate: Uk Agrees with Us Approach to Upcoming Who

VZCZCXRO5311
RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV
DE RUEHLO #4102 3051145
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 011145Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6096
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC

UNCLAS LONDON 004102

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT PLEASE PASS USTR

E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: ECPS ETRD ECON UK

SUBJECT: UK AGREES WITH US APPROACH TO UPCOMING WHO
INTERGOVERNMENTAL WORKING GROUP ON PUBLIC HEALTH, INNOVATION, AND
IP

REF State 144926

1. (SBU) SUMMARY: UK delegates from HMG Department of Health (UK DH)
and the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) agree broadly with
the US on the upcoming World Health Organization (WHO)
intergovernmental working group (IGWG) on public health, innovation,
and intellectual property. Both UK DH and UK IPO state that the WHO
should not assume any role in determining international agreements
on intellectual property. In particular, the WHO should have no
decision making role regarding patents on medicines. UK DH and UK
IPO also agree that the World Intellectual Property Organization
(WIPO) is the proper organization for IP related issues. UK DH wants
the WHO's emphasis to remain on public health and not become
involved with tangential issues. However, the third member of the
UK's delegation, the Department for International Development, might
have differing views. Both officials made clear that there may be
limits in the degree to which the UK delegation to the IGWG will
vocally defend U.S. positions on issues such as TRIPS-plus
provisions in trade agreements. END SUMMARY

2. (U) USTR representative, Chris Wilson, met with Will Niblett of
UK DH and Andrew Jenner of UK IPO during a trip to London on October
25 and 26, 2007. Niblett and Jenner comprise two-thirds of the UK's
delegation to the November 5-10, 2007 IGWG. The third member of the
UK delegation will be Charles Clift from the UK Department for
International Development (DFID). Wilson briefed Niblett and Jenner
on the US position on the upcoming IGWG.

3. (SBU) Niblett said that his delegation is "very keen" to work
with the US and that the UK broadly agrees with the US position. UK
DH is the lead UK agency at the conference. Niblett said that he
hopes to steer the meetings always from patent issues, because the
WHO's emphasis should be on public health and not intellectual
property. His priority will be to keep the conference on track,
because the agenda is too far-reaching and broad. Jenner's
statements broadly matched those of Niblett. Jenner added that
although public awareness of this issue is generally low, NGO's in
the UK are very aware of the issue. Jenner says that NGO's generally
side with the developing world on IP issues and believe patents
hinder developing countries' access to medicines. Oxfam and Doctors
without Borders are particularly following this issue. Jenner stated
that DFID tends to be more supportive of the developing world at
these conferences. Although DFID only compromises one-third of the
UK delegation, Clift is well-known at the WHO and has much
experience at IGWG's. It is unclear how much influence he will be
able exert over the two other members of his delegation.

LEBARON

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