US Trade Representative Barbara Weisel is scheduled to meet with Commerce Ministry permanent secretary Siripol Yodmuangcharoen today to discuss compulsory HIV drug licensing and Thailand’s trade status revision.

Thailand’s military-backed government on 29 November 2007 issued a compulsory license for Merck’s HIV/AIDS drug efavirenz, in an attempt to cut growing healthcare costs by encouraging the production and import of generic versions of the patented medicine.

In response, the U.S. has placed Thailand as “priority foreign country” (PFC), up from priority watch list (PWL).

The outcome is expected that Thai revised its compulsory license and the U.S. decided whether to extend or cut tariff privileges on Thai goods under the Genera-lised System of Preferences.