The World Trade Organization “Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property
Rights” (TRIPS) is a program of “deep integration” policy reform in the world economy which offers
the potential for increased technological innovation, informational and cultural expression, and economic
growth in developing countries. However, TRIPS-obligated policy reforms will likely produce these
outcomes over the long term but in the short term upset traditional relationships among suppliers,
buyers, producers, and consumers. Extant patterns of economic activity and interests are deeplyrooted
in developing countries, thus, TRIPS implementation faces considerable opposition within
developing country governments and from domestic interest groups.