The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA), the lobby group for the domestic pharma industry, has filed a submission to the US Trade Representative (USTR) to remove India from its Priority Watch List (PWL), which includes countries that are alleged to have weak enforcement of patent laws. IPA has drawn the attention of USTR to the rapid progress made by India on a number of fronts that were cited by the US body while placing India on PWL in 2018. The Indian drug industry is worried about reports that the US government is considering withdrawal of zero tariffs on India, which may adversely impact the Indian drug industry on allegations of not honouring patents. India enjoys certain trade benefits filed under the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), which is a preferential tariff system extended by developed nations to developing countries. India exported about $5 billion worth of pharmaceuticals. Now, if the US imposes fresh tariff, Indian drug makers may get impacted.

(Money Control)