See also P. Roffe, “Bilateral Agreements and a TRIPS-plus World: The Chile - United States Free Trade Agreement”, QUNO TRIPS Issue Papers No. Acknowledging these concerns, the linkage requirement was made optional under the more recent FTAs between the United States and Panama, as well as Peru. On this particular issue, USTR has replied to Congress that the data protection provisions in FTAs would not stand in the way of compulsory licensing.