Dec 4, 2019 - Politics & Policy

Biologics provision may be dropped from USMCA

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Mexico is considering a U.S. proposal to leave biologics protections out of the new trade deal between the two countries and Canada, Bloomberg reports.

Why it matters: The change could help the trade agreement get across the finish line by garnering Democratic support, but it'd be a big loss for the pharmaceutical industry.

Details: The original trade pact, which was a renegotiation of NAFTA, would have given biologics 10 years of market exclusivity in each of the three countries — an extension of their monopoly period under current Mexican and Canadian law.

Including pharmaceutical industry protections in trade deals has been a Republican priority for years.

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Sam Baker

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More Republicans say they're wearing masks

Data: Axios/Ipsos poll; Chart: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios

Nearly two-thirds of Americans — and a noticeably increasing number of Republicans — say they’re wearing a face mask whenever they leave the house, according to the latest installment of the Axios-Ipsos Coronavirus Index.

Why it matters: A weakening partisan divide over masks, and a broad-based increase in the number of people wearing them, would be a welcome development as most of the country tries to beat back a rapidly growing outbreak.

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Joann Muller

12 mins ago - Economy & Business

Buildings are getting tested for coronavirus, too

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

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Miriam Kramer

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The summer of Mars

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

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