Extended biologics protection in Canada won’t take effect for at least a year

Although the U.S. and Canada reached a preliminary agreement Sunday on a revamped North American trade deal, it will likely be more than a year before it can be enforced. The new trade agreement, dubbed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, revises the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to afford 10 years of biologics market protection, extending the eight years of protection that Canada currently offers (see "Canada Agrees to 10 Years Exclusivity for Biologics").

Ron Oleynik, a partner at law firm Holland & Knight working in international trade law, told BioCentury the provisions in USMCA would need to approved by all three nations' legislatures before it comes into effect. Mexico agreed to terms in August...