Not so fast John Kerry: Canada deals blow to cheap US drug imports (exports from Canda to US) Posted on Monday, October 18, 2004 Link here: FT.com - Home UK - Canada deals blow to cheap US drug {ex}ports (original headline references drug IMports - as in import to U.S. from Canada But growing concern in Canada that growing exports to the US could lead to rising prices and shortages north of the border has prompted the Canadian International Pharmacy Association (Cipa), whose members include several of the biggest internet and mail-order drugstores, to act. “We don't want to give Americans the impression that we have unlimited supply for them to tap into on a commercial basis,” said David Mackay, the association's executive director. Americans, he added, “can't get everything from Canada. We can't be your complete drugstore”. Prescription drug prices are significantly lower in Canada than the US, because of price controls and bulk buying by the 10 provinces. Individual Americans have crossed the border for years to buy cheap medicines, but the internet and spiralling healthcare costs in the US have led to a wider movement for states and cities to sourcethe drugs they need from Canada. Several states, such as Minnesota and New Hampshire, have set up websites directing residents to approved pharmacies in Canada. Cipa members would continue to service these customers, Mr Mackay said, but would not deal with states such as Illinois and Wisconsin that have proposed turning over their entire supply system to a Canadian internet pharmacy. I finally really figured this out - Kerry wants to TAX Canadians and get them to help subsidize health care in the U.S. via importing of drugs to the U.S. from Canada. Nice that the Canadians see this one coming and are trying to stop it before it takes effect.