UK-Swiss Trade Deal Stalls Over Pharma Dispute

Trade talks between the UK and Switzerland have stalled due to a disagreement over intellectual property protections for pharmaceuticals, specifically Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPC). The UK government’s resistance to incorporating these protections into a new free trade agreement is driven by concerns about potential increases in NHS costs, while Swiss negotiators argue it’s crucial for investor certainty and pharmaceutical innovation. This dispute highlights differing approaches to pharmaceutical regulation between the two nations and the EU’s ongoing overhaul of its pharmaceutical laws.

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