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USMCA Trade Deal Will Keep U.S. Drug Prices High, Groups Warn

November 13, 2018

The Trump administration’s newly negotiated trade deal with Canada and Mexico threatens to keep American drug prices high, two dozen-plus consumer, health, trade and other organizations warned this week in a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative.

The 29 groups — including the Association for Accessible Medicines and the AARP — claim some provisions in the proposed NAFTA overhaul are inconsistent with U.S. law.

The proposed U.S.-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement (USMCA) would damage generic drug competition and lengthen the time it takes to develop biosimilars, the groups said, adding that the deal would create new monopolies for branded drugs and delay patient access to cheaper generics and biosimilars.

The letter expressed concern that a 10-year brand-name biologic exclusivity provision would slow biosimilar development and hinder access to certain medicines.

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