Prospects of intellectual-property waiver on Covid-19 vaccines fade

Geneva, Nov 18 (Prensa Latina) The WTO Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Council) has concluded its meeting reaching no agreements on elements underpinning Covid-19 vaccines.

November 18, 2021
16:53

According to a statement, the TRIPS Council will continue deliberations to find a common response to Covid-19 through the 12th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to be held on November 30.

Specifically, disagreement persists in the Council as to whether exemption from certain provisions of the TRIPS Council Agreement is the most appropriate and effective way to address the shortage and uneven distribution of vaccines, as well as other drugs to curb the disease.

India and South Africa, seconded by other nations, support this project, in which they request to suspend patents of vaccines, drugs and necessary sanitary materials for three years.

Meanwhile, the European Union also supports a draft declaration of the General Council on the TRIPS Agreement and public health ahead of a pandemic, in which it calls for limiting export restrictions and supporting expansion of vaccine productions.

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