VZCZCXRO5614
RR RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHQU RUEHVC
DE RUEHOT #3447 3252140
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 212140Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4480
INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEAUSA/HHS WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1220

UNCLAS OTTAWA 003447 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EB AND IO 
USTR FOR SULLIVAN AND GARDE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CA ECON ETRD KIPR WTRO
SUBJECT: CANADA: COUNTERING ANTI-IP PROPOSALS AT WORLD 
HEALTH ORGANIZATION INTER-GOVERNMENTAL WORKING GROUP MEETING 
 
REF: SECSTATE 187542 
 
¶1. (sbu) Econcouns delivered reftel points on countering 
World Health Organization (WHO) Secretariat forays into 
intellectual property issues to Department of Interational 
Trade Intellectual Property Director Doug George and Senior 
Trade Policy Advisor Julie Boisvert.  George had little 
immediate comment except to say that Canada shared the USG's 
view that the WHO Secretariat should stay within its 
technical competence on trade and intellectual property 
matters.  George added that Canada is cautious about taking 
actions that might undermine existing IP agreements and would 
look into what the Secretariat might be doing.  That said, he 
also commented that necessary health research and development 
does not always happen if left to market forces. 
 
¶2. (sbu) George suggested that the U.S. and Canadian missions 
in Geneva coordinate their positions ahead of the WHO 
Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) meeting on December 
4-8.  To help the Canadian delegation prepare, George 
requested more details on specific concerns that the USG 
might have regarding the IGWG.  In the meantime, George said 
he would share the USG points with Canada's Health and 
Industry Ministries, as well as Canada's mission in Geneva. 
 
Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa 
 
WILKINS