How do such instances affect trade relations and how are these kinds of conflicts addressed?
The Dutch government is all for increasing the availability of affordable medicines, especially for the very poor, so we are very much in favour of generic medicines. We completely comply with TRIPS (Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, a global IPR agreement signed by WTO countries). However, there was a complaint by a producer who said that the medicines in transit were violating intellectual property rights. If there is such a complaint, then, according to European regulations, we have to act. But the issue was unclear and the medicines are now out of the Netherlands and in transit again. We want to resolve any lack of clarity or differences between the European regulations on the one hand and the TRIPS regulations on the other. But let me be very clear-the Dutch government is definitely in favour of open markets, and in favour of generic medicines, especially for the poor people. The Netherlands is very clear that the Doha round [of WTO talks] should be developed
