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Billed as the biggest trade deal in global history, negotiations over the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) finally overcame their last stumbling block – a disagreement on the minimum period of protection of the rights to data used to make biologic drugs – and 12 “Pacific Rim” countries are set to become signatories to the accord, which combined represents some 40% of the global economy. “The deal could reshape industries and influence everything from the price of cheese to the cost of cancer treatments.” The countries still need to ratify the deal domestically, however.
