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GENEVA (AP) - Negotiators failed Friday to resolve differences between the United States and developing countries over access to essential medicines, but hoped to renew efforts in early December, trade officials said.
"Delegations need time to take stock of the situation and to consult in capitals," said Eduardo Perez Motta of Mexico, chairman of the World Trade Organization negotiations.
Perez Motta urged delegates to show more flexibility when talks resume in the coming days.
The United States, which wants to protect its pharmaceutical industry patents, said it remained committed to supporting poor countries' access to drugs to fight epidemics but opposed extending an accord to other health issues.
"Everyone needs to keep their eye on the ball," said U.S. Ambassador Linnet F. Deily. "Our goal here is to fight the scourge of AIDS and other epidemics."
The African group, supported by other developing countries, expressed disappointment at what they described as proposals that would narrow the accord reached at a meeting of trade ministers in Doha, Qatar, last year.
At issue are the WTO rules on intellectual property. The Doha meeting recognized the right of WTO members to override patents on expensive Western drugs and make the products themselves when public health is at stake.
However, drugs made under such licensing were to be used domestically, not exported. That meant a country without a drug industry was no better off because it could neither make the drugs nor buy them from another country.
Delegates aim to resolve the differences by year's end. Perez Motta said he would like to have an accord ready for the major WTO meeting Dec. 10.
Trade officials said the breakdown in talks was commonplace during complex issues, but that progress had been made because delegations now understand each other's positions.
"As I have always cautioned, the devil is in the detail, and this is indeed what we have found," said Perez Motta.
Although there is general agreement that the least developed countries should be given access to cheap generic drugs, there is no consensus on whether this right should be bestowed on wealthier developing countries such as Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan.
There is also no agreement on whether to drop the usual patent protection just for specific diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria - as the United States wants - or for all diseases including cancer and diabetes. Another difference is whether the relaxed rules should cover public health or be restricted to emergencies like epidemics.
"Delegations need time to take stock of the situation and to consult in capitals," said Eduardo Perez Motta of Mexico, chairman of the World Trade Organization negotiations.
Perez Motta urged delegates to show more flexibility when talks resume in the coming days.
The United States, which wants to protect its pharmaceutical industry patents, said it remained committed to supporting poor countries' access to drugs to fight epidemics but opposed extending an accord to other health issues.
"Everyone needs to keep their eye on the ball," said U.S. Ambassador Linnet F. Deily. "Our goal here is to fight the scourge of AIDS and other epidemics."
The African group, supported by other developing countries, expressed disappointment at what they described as proposals that would narrow the accord reached at a meeting of trade ministers in Doha, Qatar, last year.
At issue are the WTO rules on intellectual property. The Doha meeting recognized the right of WTO members to override patents on expensive Western drugs and make the products themselves when public health is at stake.
However, drugs made under such licensing were to be used domestically, not exported. That meant a country without a drug industry was no better off because it could neither make the drugs nor buy them from another country.
Delegates aim to resolve the differences by year's end. Perez Motta said he would like to have an accord ready for the major WTO meeting Dec. 10.
Trade officials said the breakdown in talks was commonplace during complex issues, but that progress had been made because delegations now understand each other's positions.
"As I have always cautioned, the devil is in the detail, and this is indeed what we have found," said Perez Motta.
Although there is general agreement that the least developed countries should be given access to cheap generic drugs, there is no consensus on whether this right should be bestowed on wealthier developing countries such as Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan.
There is also no agreement on whether to drop the usual patent protection just for specific diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria - as the United States wants - or for all diseases including cancer and diabetes. Another difference is whether the relaxed rules should cover public health or be restricted to emergencies like epidemics.
