Gilbert Gutknecht: “I cannot support the United States-Australia Free Trade Implementation Act due to the provisions related to…”

“I cannot support the United States-Australia Free Trade Implementation Act due to the provisions related to pharmaceuticals that were included in this agreement. On July 25, 2003, 242 of my colleagues joined me in supporting my legislation to implement a true, market-based system whereby consumers could access safe and affordable prescription drugs. I find it interesting that a free trade agreement would blatantly run counter to legislation that would, in effect, establish a market-based arena for prescription drugs. Proponents of this language have said that it is practically meaningless because Australian law already bans the export of subsidized prescription drugs. Why then, do we feel the need to include such a meaningless provision in the trade agreement? Let me illustrate why this language is not meaningless. In fact, it attempts to hamstring efforts to provide affordable prescription drugs for seniors, the uninsured and consumers who continue to pay 30 to 300 percent more for prescription drugs than anyone else.”