An agreement allowing developing countries better access to cheap drugs for diseases like HIV/AIDS and malaria has been reached by the World Trade Organisation (WTO), South African newspaper The Star reported on Monday.
The pact resolves a dispute between the US and developing countries less than two weeks before a WTO summit in Cancun, Mexico.
US opposition blocked the deal last December, citing concerns that the proposal could open the way to generic producers like Brazil and India flooding the market with cheap medicines.
However, under the more relaxed rules of the accord, developing nations battling with HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria can now purchase generic versions of drugs from producers like India and Brazil.
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