§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the effect of the decision in the Government444W White Paper on International Development to help developing countries implement the WTO Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement on poor people in those countries. [31537]
§ Clare ShortMost developing countries are on track to implement their obligations under the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) by the year 2000. Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are likely to request an extension of their implementation period beyond the agreed time frame up to 2006. The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) has primary responsibility for providing technical assistance to developing countries in the implementation of TRIPs, supported in some areas by WTO and UNCTAD. My officials are planning to visit WIPO, UNCTAD and WTO in April to discuss their programmes and to identify possible areas for collaboration. We will focus in particular on how TRIPs should be implemented and monitored with a view to maximising the beneficial impact on poor people.