US Trade Representative: United States to support waver of vaccine intellectual property protections at the WTO
The Biden administration will now reportedly support a proposal to waive intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines, it was reported on Wednesday.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Katherine Tai, the US Trade Representative, said that "we are for the waiver at the WTO (World Trade Organization)."
"We are for what the proponents of the waiver are trying to accomplish, which is better access, more manufacturing capability, more shots in arms," she added.
Tai added that the Biden administration will take an active role in negotiations for the next waiver at the World Trade Organization and will work to encourage other countries to show their support.
Tai also that the negotiations will take time and "will not be easy".
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"In terms of how soon the WTO can deliver - that literally depends on the WTO members, collectively, being able to deliver, and so I am the first one to admit that we are leaning into is a process that is not going to be easy," she said.
Drug manufacturers have previously opposed the waiver and characterized it as ineffective, largely due to the fact that a limited number of countries are capable of producing vaccines, as well as limited raw materials and facilities around the globe.
A number of countries have also resisted the effort, including the EU, UK and Brazil. Others - including India and South Africa - have urged the WTO to temporarily suspend intellectual property rules while the Covid-19 pandemic is brought under control.
"Given what is at stake, this is the best chance for the WTO to be able to come together to deliver something that is going to help people and make a difference," Tai was quoted as saying by Bloomberg.
Tai reportedly briefed Biden on the matter on Tuesday.
At Wednesday's WTO meeting, both India and South Africa agreed to revise their proposal and present it to other members at a meeting scheduled for later in May.
American politicians, including Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, have supported the move. Manufacturers have argued that the move - which would see vaccine technology shared with Russia and China - would damage their ability to compete.
In April, Tai said that "the desperate needs that our people face in the current pandemic provide these companies with an opportunity to they claim to be, and can be."