The WTO’s Pharma Agreement

Copyright © 2025 LexisNexis
Published by a LexisNexis International Trade expert
Practice notes

The WTO’s Pharma Agreement

Copyright © 2025 LexisNexis

Published by a LexisNexis International Trade expert

Practice notes
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This Practice Note provides practical guidance on the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Agreement on Trade in Pharmaceutical Products (the Pharma Agreement).

Introduction

During the Uruguay Round in 1994, some WTO Member States agreed to a plurilateral agreement on pharmaceutical products, namely the Pharma Agreement. The Member States party to the Pharma Agreement agreed to eliminate and/or reduce tariffs on specific sectors. These commitments only apply among the Member States that are a party to the Pharma Agreement. As such, only those Member States may rely on the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) principle. For guidance on the MFN principle, see Practice Note: An introduction to Trade in Goods.

Which Member States are part of the Pharma Agreement

Currently, the following Member States are party to the Pharma Agreement:

  1. •

    Canada

  2. •

    The EU

  3. •

    Japan

  4. •

    Macao (China)

  5. •

    Norway

  6. •

    Switzerland

  7. •

    The UK, and

  8. •

    The USA

The Pharma Agreement also lists Australia as a party, however, Australia did not agree to be included in the list of Member States that concluded the Pharma Agreement

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