    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
    [May 10, 2000]
    [Pages 888-889]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Senator Dianne Feinstein on
    Signing an Executive Order on Access to HIV/AIDS Pharmaceuticals and
    Medical Technologies
    May 10, 2000

    Dear Senator Feinstein:
        I am pleased to inform you that today I will sign an Executive Order
    that is intended to help make HIV/AIDS-related drugs and medical
    technologies more accessible and affordable in beneficiary sub-Saharan
    African countries. The Executive Order, which is based in large part on
    your work in connection with the proposed Trade and Development Act of
    2000, formalizes U.S. government policy in this area. It also directs
    other steps to be taken to address the spread of HIV and AIDS in Africa,
    one of the worst health crises the world faces.
        As you know, the worldwide HIV/AIDS epidemic has taken a terrible
    toll in terms of human suffering. Nowhere has the suffering been as
    great as in Africa, where over 5,500 people per day are dying from AIDS.
    Approximately 34 million people in sub-Saharan Africa

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    have been infected and, of those infected, approximately 11.5 million
    have died. These deaths represent more than 80 percent of the total HIV/
    AIDS-related deaths worldwide.
        To help those countries most affected by HIV/AIDS fight this
    terrible disease, the Executive Order directs the U.S. Government to
    refrain from seeking, through negotiation or otherwise, the revocation
    or revision of any law or policy imposed by a beneficiary sub-Saharan
    government that promotes access to HIV/AIDS pharmaceuticals and medical
    technologies. This order will give sub-Saharan governments the
    flexibility to bring life saving drugs and medical technologies to
    affected populations. At the same time, the order ensures that
    fundamental intellectual property rights of U.S. businesses and
    inventors are protected by requiring sub-Saharan governments to provide
    adequate and effective intellectual property protection consistent with
    World Trade Organization rules. In this way, the order strikes a proper
    balance between the need to enable sub-Saharan governments to increase
    access to HIV/AIDS pharmaceuticals and medical technologies and the need
    to ensure that intellectual property is protected.
        I know that you preferred that this policy be included in the
    Conference Report on the Trade and Development Act of 2000, as did I.
    However, through this Executive Order, the policy this Administration
    has pursued with your support will be implemented by the U.S.
    Government. The Executive Order will encourage beneficiary sub-Saharan
    African countries to build a better infrastructure to fight diseases
    like HIV/AIDS as they build better lives for their people. At the same
    time, the Trade and Development Act of 2000 will strengthen African
    economies, enhance African democracy, and expand U.S.-African trade.
    Together, these steps will enable the United States to forge closer ties
    with our African allies, broaden export opportunities for our workers
    and businesses, and promote our values around the world.
        Thank you for your leadership on this critically important issue.
             Sincerely,

                                                          William J. Clinton

    Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this letter. The Executive order is listed in Appendix D at the end of
    this volume.