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From: | "Kerry Doson" <croca@ozemail.com.au> |
Date: | Sun, 11 May 2003 14:15:55 +1000 |
Hoop, I wouldn't be too envious of the Aussi
FTA.
Some of the quid pro quo side effects are likely
to be an attack on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme providing affordable
medicines(and which will no doubt assist Howard's objective of dismembering
Medicare); erosion of local production quotas in the cultural industries such as
film; a loosening of quarantine restrictions; and free kicks for Gates and mates
under the guise of more stringent "protection" of intellectual
property rights.
Such bilateral deals also undermine any impetus
towards genuine multilateral agreement.
As one commentator here recently remarked:
"Imperial powers don't have friends, they have vassals."
Best wishes, Newz.
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