BIO Supports Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities Act of 2014
Washington, DC (Monday, January 13, 2014) – Today, the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) expresses strong support for the “Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities Act of 2014”, which was issued by a bipartisan group of leaders from the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committee last week.
The bill outlines Congressional objectives for trade agreements, and lays out the process for Congressional approval of agreements negotiated by the Administration.
The following statement can be attributed to BIO’s President and CEO, Jim Greenwood:
“This legislation would help advance the global goals of our members significantly by ensuring that trade agreements reflect a high level of intellectual property rights modeled on U.S. laws, strengthening the transparency and accountability of drug reimbursement regimes, and removing unjustified barriers to agricultural biotechnology trade.
“America’s innovative biotechnology industry, which includes hundreds of small companies, is engaged in the business of researching and developing innovative new medicines and treatments. Our goal is to ensure that the U.S. biotechnology industry remains the strongest and most advanced in the world.
“Biotechnology has the potential to be one of the cornerstones of U.S. global competitiveness in the 21st century if U.S. trade agreements ensure IP rights and fair play by our trading partners. Hundreds of thousands of new jobs will depend on this.
“Fortunately, Congressional leaders have recognized this, and we believe this bill advances these goals, and we call for its swift enactment.
“We look forward to working with the Congress to enact this legislation, and just as importantly, to ensuring that trade agreements negotiated by the Administration, such as the TPP and TTIP faithfully reflect these standards.”
Upcoming BIO Events
BIO CEO & Investor Conference
February 10 – 11, 2014
New York, NY
BIO Asia International Conference
April 8-9, 2014
Tokyo, Japan
World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology
May 12-15, 2014
Philadelphia, PA
BIO International Convention
June 23-26, 2014
San Diego, CA
Livestock Biotech Summit
September 16-18, 2014
Sioux Falls, SD