Uncle Fluffy writes "The BBC is reporting that The United States has dropped its complaint
against Brazil for allowing the production of
generic Aids-treatment drugs within the South
American country.


The US filed its complaint with the World Trade
Organisation (WTO) in February over a Brazilian
law that permits a local company to
manufacture a product, made by a foreign
company, if that company fails to initiate
production within Brazil within three years.



The US complained that the Brazilian law
discriminated against all imported products and
was a protectionist measure.



For its part, Brazil had accused the Bush
administration of launching an attack on its
successful Aids-treatment programme, adding
that the pharmaceutical industry exerts a
disproportionate influence on Washington."