This paper provides an overview of the Philippines' defensive and offensive interests in a Free Trade Agreement with the European Union in the areas of Competition Policy, Government Procurement, Intellectual Property Rights, Dispute Settlement and Trade Remedies. It examines these interests in...

IP provisions in FTAs may have implications on a wide range of public policy areas. A vast academic literature has addressed the "flexibilities" available under the TRIPS Agreement and the negative impact of FTAs in relation to access to medicines. For example, the Special Rapporteur on the...

The use of TRIPS flexibilities by WTO members involves interpretation of the obligations under TRIPS which can be challenged under the WTO dispute settlement system. Mutually agreed solutions, panel or Appellate Body decisions adopted in such disputes can thus impact the scope of TRIPS...