DATE=8/30/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=W-T-O/DRUGS (S)

NUMBER=2-307006

BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN

DATELINE=GENEVA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The World Trade Organization, under pressure from African nations, has sealed an agreement to allow poor countries to import cheap copies of patented drugs for killer diseases such as H-I-V/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. Lisa Schlein reports from W-T-O headquarters in Geneva.

TEXT: This hard-won agreement will let developing countries ignore some patent rules so they can import drugs from cheaper generic manufacturers. W-T-O's Director-General, Supachai Panitchpakdi, calls it an historic agreement. He says it proves the organization can handle humanitarian as well as trade concerns.

The agreement was achieved after several days of emotionally charged negotiations.

The deal had seemed settled after the United States, the only holdout, said it would join the other 145 W-T-O members in approving the measure. Then at the last minute, several countries said they wanted to make formal statements, while others refused to agree.

Trade representatives say an impassioned plea by African countries to give them the right to have affordable medicines turned the tide in favor of the agreement. (Signed)

NEB/LS/ALW/MEM