On January 30 2018 the government published the Comprehensive and Progressive Partnership for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) - Backgrounder. According to the backgrounder, Canada and other signatories have agreed to suspend certain IP, patent and pharmaceutical obligations under the Trans-Pacific Partnership, including with respect to patent term adjustments to compensate for unreasonable patent office and marketing authorisation delays. Canada already provides for patent term extensions for marketing authorisation delays under the Patent Act and the Certificate of Supplementary Protection Regulations which took effect on September 21 2017 (for further details please see "Publication of final regulations on patent linkage and term restoration relating to CETA").

On February 20 2018 Global Affairs Canada subsequently issued a press release announcing the release of the full text of the CPTPP and its projected economic impact on Canada.

For further information on this topic please contact Katie Lee at Smart & Biggar/Fetherstonhaugh by telephone (+1 416 593 5514) or email ([email protected]). The Smart & Biggar/Fetherstonhaugh website can be accessed at www.smart-biggar.ca.

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