[Editorial] Gov’t Hid Fact About U.S. Policy Interference
It has been revealed that the United States government has been calling the shots at a “working group” between our government and Korean and international pharmaceutical companies. Since 2002 and until the end of last year an official from the U.S. embassy has been attending the group’s meetings, and the government says the official was always just an observer. However, the minutes show you that the U.S. embassy essentially led those meetings.
The case confirms once again how Korean diplomacy with America is undignified. The U.S. official “warned” participants that he would have to report to his government any changes to anything agreed on between the U.S. and Korea, and when our government sought to get rid of the meetings he put the brakes on that and maintained them. Our government is just pathetic for being dragged around by the U.S., even over the issue of pharmaceuticals, which directly relates to the lives of the people.
Pharmaceutical products are an issue over which rich Western countries and the other nations of the world are in sharp confrontation. The rich countries speak for the multinational pharmaceutical companies and try hard to have the price of major products raised every little bit more. Another of their main goals is strengthening copyright laws so they can monopolize the technology. The U.S. is leading the way in something that is criticized for being an effort to maintain business interests when the world’s masses’ lives are at stake.
Our government’s passive attitude is nothing new. For years it has ignored demands by people with leukemia that it supply the product Gleevec at an inexpensive price, but those have been ignored. Last year it made laws on pharmaceutical products far more favorable to multinational pharmaceutical companies than what was agreed on at the World Trade Organization. The government’s approach is of even greater concern because of the current negotiations with the U.S. on a fair trade agreement (FTA). The government needs to start displaying a dignified attitude. If it doesn’t, we can forget about an advantageous outcome. It will be hard enough getting what we deserve for what we pay for.
The Hankyoreh, 27 March 2006.
[Translations by Seoul Selection]