“As civil society organizations concerned about access to medicines, in your three countries and globally, we write to you in advance of your North American Leaders’ Summit in Ottawa on June 29. The summit is an important opportunity to demonstrate human rights leadership—nationally, regionally and globally—in the Americas.
“In February of this year, the United States, Canada and Mexico all became signatories to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), one of the largest trade and investment agreements in history. Our countries now face a two-year period of time in which to consider whether or not to pursue ratification. We are deeply concerned by significant human rights shortcomings associated with the deal, particularly with regard to access to medicines. Our concerns have been echoed by UN human rights experts and numerous civil society groups in all twelve TPP member states.”