Thousands of Peruvians protest U.S. trade pact

[maddezmom]

LIMA, Peru (Reuters) - Thousands of Peruvians protested on Wednesday against a proposed U.S.-trade pact that a United Nations investigator warned would put medicines out of reach of millions of poor people.

Farmers, doctors and politicians, some dressed as ghosts and skeletons, marched through central Lima to decry a U.S free-trade deal they see as a way of bullying Peru to allow U.S. companies to dominate its markets.

"We're really worried about the impact this is going to have. Not only are medicines going to get more expensive, but fewer people will have access to drugs," said Manuel Izaca, president of the association of Peruvian drug companies.

Colombia, Ecuador and Peru are negotiating the accord with the United States aimed at boosting trade flows and economic growth in the Andean nations. The Andeans had hoped to strike a deal at the start of this year. Peru now hopes to conclude in September.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050713/wl_nm/trade_health_dc_1