In China, thousands of people with HIV/AIDS are suffering from lack of treatment they need to survive. While the Chinese government provides free AIDS treatment to people with AIDS, many have developed resistance to the first line of AIDS medications, and second-line drugs are not included in the government program. People are dying.

Why? Because AIDS drugs are expensive - and the pharmaceutical companies that produce second-line treatment sell the medicines at prices far beyond the reach of rural people in China. Though the TRIPS provisions in the WTO allow developing countries to issue compulsory licenses and manufacture AIDS drugs domestically, China has been reluctant to do that due to fear of trade sanctions.

The U.S. has been a big part of the problem. In the past, thanks to the power of the big pharma lobby in D.C., the U.S. has placed heavy sanctions on countries that issue compulsory licenses. Just last year, pharmaceutical companies lobbied the U.S. Trade Representative to sanction Thailand because that country had issued compulsory licenses for AIDS drugs. Under the Bush administration, the U.S.T.R. agreed. James Love of KEI says this is "entirely because the USTR and the Bush White House were not willing to stand up to corporate lobbying from Merck, Abbott, Sanofi and other PhRMA members."

President Obama promised to change the U.S. approach. Our new report will urge Mr. Kirk, the new U.S.T.R., not to use punitive measures against countries that exercise their right to issue compulsory licenses for life-saving medications. It's the humane thing to do. Please call or write to U.S.T.R. Ron Kirk to urge him not to penalize countries for invoking their rights under WTO.

Save the date - we're planning a panel at NYU Law School on access to AIDS treatment for children in China on Tuesday, April 28^th from 6:30-8:30 pm, followed by a wine and cheese reception. A similar event will follow at American University in early May. Stay tuned for details.

If only 19 more members join the Facebook cause by the end of March, we'll get a $500 donation from board member Minky Worden for the campaign. Please join and invite your friends!