The United States government pressured South Africa and worked with pharmaceutical companies to prevent the importation of generic HIV medications from countries like India, prioritizing intellectual property rights over the lives of 15-30 million Africans who would die without access to affordable antiretroviral drugs.
factualpending
Speaker
Lawrence LessigEvidence Quote
“The U.S. government pressured South Africa ... not to permit compulsory licensing or parallel imports... the government asked South Africa to change the law - and to add pressure to that request, in 1998, the USTR listed South Africa for possible trade sanctions.”
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Free cultureCreated: 8/13/2026, 2:35:01 AM
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