RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE WT/DS36/2
ORGANIZATION 28May1996
(96-2010)
Original: English
PAKISTAN -PATENT PROTECTION FOR PHARMACEUTICAL
AND AGRICULTURAL CHEMICAL PRODUCTS
Request toJoinConsultations
Communication from theEuropean Communities
Thefollowing communication, dated 20May1996, from thePermanent Delegation ofthe
European Commission tothePermanent Mission ofPakistan, andtotheDispute Settlement Body,
iscirculated inaccordance withArticle 4.11oftheDSU.
_______________
Pursuant totheprocedures laiddown inArticle 4.11oftheUnderstanding onRules and
Procedures Governing theSettlement ofDisputes (DSU), theEuropean Communities andtheirMember
States wishtobeincluded intheconsultations under Article 64.1oftheAgreement onTrade-Related
Aspects ofIntellectual Property Rights inconjunction withArticle XXII:1 ofGATT 1994 requested
bytheUnited States byacommunication circulated toWTO Members on6May1996 (WT/DS36/1,
IP/D/2) regarding theabsence inPakistan ofeither patent protection forpharmaceutical andagricultural
chemical product patents andasystem togrant exclusive marketing rights insuchproducts.
TheEuropean pharmaceutical andagro-chemical industry hasanimportant export interest in
thePakistan market. Theactual amount ofthisinterest is,atthisstage, difficult toevaluate because
Pakistan doesnotprovide foreither patent protection ortheabove-mentioned filing andmarketing
systems.