[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 19 (Monday, May 15, 2000)]
[Page 1058]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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 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.