Resisting patent waiver, EU submits vaccine plan to WTO
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[June 04, 2021]
By Philip Blenkinsop
BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Union
submitted to the World Trade Organization on Friday a plan it believes
will more effectively broaden supply of COVID-19 vaccines than the
intellectual property (IP) rights waiver backed by the United States.
India, South Africa and dozens of developing countries are demanding an
IP rights waiver for COVID-19 vaccines and other treatments to address
what they say is a "staggering inequity" in access to global public
goods.
A surprise U.S. shift in May to support a patent waiver heaped pressure
on remaining opponents, such as the European Union and Switzerland that
are home to many drugmakers.
The European Commission, which oversees trade policy for the 27-nation
EU, said on Friday it had submitted an alternative, stressing limits on
export restrictions and existing WTO rules allowing countries to grant
licences to producers.
WTO members discussed a revised waiver proposal on Monday, their 11th
meeting on the topic since an initial proposal in October, though still
with no breakthrough. Another meeting is planned for next Tuesday and
Wednesday.
The EU plan, which it says could be put into action much quicker,
consists of three elements.
Export restrictions should be kept to a minimum. The EU has stressed it
has exported more than 200 million vaccine doses, a level not matched by
others such as the United States.
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An employee works at the factory of U.S. pharmaceutical company
Pfizer during a visit by European Commission President Ursula von
der Leyen (not pictured) to oversee the production of the Pfizer-BioNtech
COVID-19 vaccine, in Puurs, Belgium April 23, 2021. John Thys /Pool
via REUTERS/File Photo
The EU would encourage vaccine makers and developers
to enter licensing and manufacturing deals with producers in
developing countries and pledge increased supplies to vulnerable
nations, as Pfizer/BioNTech, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna have
done.
Thirdly, the EU plan highlights existing WTO rules allowing
countries to grant licences to manufacturers even without the
consent of the patent-holder, although they would still receive
compensation. Such licences should help ensure vaccines are
available at affordable prices.
(Reporting by Philip BlenkinsopEditing by Mark Heinrich)
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