Fed: FTA expected to be endorsed today

AAP General News (Australia)
08-13-2004
Fed: FTA expected to be endorsed today

CANBERRA, Aug 13 AAP - The free trade deal with the United States is expected to be
finally endorsed by federal parliament today in an unscheduled Friday sitting.

A marathon Senate session finished at midnight with senators still debating minor party
amendments.

The Labor amendments agreed to by the government yesterday will be discussed today,
but the future of the deal will hang on the endorsement of the Bush Administration in
Washington.

Prime Minister John Howard said he reluctantly agreed to Labor's amendments on patent
laws and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), warning the changes could derail the
deal with the US.

But Opposition Leader Mark Latham said his amendments were consistent with the text
of the free trade agreement and dismissed Mr Howard's suggestion that US Trade Representative
Bob Zoellick could now veto the deal.

The breakthrough on the trade deal came after four days of negotiations over the ALP's
amendments, which will boost penalties for bogus patent applications which could be filed
to stop cheap generic medicines coming onto the market.

AAP mfh/cmc

KEYWORD: TRADE US DAYLEAD

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