The FTA has stalled in Canberra even though the government and opposition Labor Party both say they support it while the pact has sailed through the legislative process in Washington.

The stumbling block is an opposition demand for an amendment to provisions that they say would all US pharamceutical giants to effectively dismantle a system guaranteeing Australians access to cheap drugs.

The government has so far rejected the suggestion, saying existing safeguards are sufficient and the amendment would result in "bad law" that could damage intellectual property rights.

With neither side willing to lose face ahead of national elections later this year, business and medical leaders urged the government to forget the politicking and accept the amendment in order to save the deal.