U.S. Backs Waiver of Intellectual Property Protection for Covid-19 Vaccines
Biden administration supports WTO proposal aimed at speeding up global vaccine production
WASHINGTON—The Biden administration said it would back a proposal at the World Trade Organization to waive intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines to help speed up global production.
Developing nations led by India and South Africa have been pushing for the waiver, saying it is needed to stem the coronavirus pandemic. The waiver is also supported by more than 100 members of Congress.
Pharmaceutical companies and other business groups have opposed the waiver, however, saying it wouldn’t supply short-term supply production problems because contract producers lack certain needed technical knowledge.
U.S. Trade Representative Katehrine Tai said the administration’s decision was based on the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic.
“The administration believes strongly in intellectual property protections, but in service of ending this pandemic, supports the waiver of those protections for Covid-19 vaccines,” Ms. Tai said,
Member nations of the WTO are discussing a proposal supported by over 100 developing nations calling for a temporary waiver of intellectual property rights protection related to the “prevention, containment, or treatment” of Covid-19.
Until now, the U.S., other wealthy nations and the European Union have opposed the waiver, saying IP protection provides an important incentive for innovation to develop products to fight the current and future pandemics.
Ms. Tai said the support for the waiver is just one part of Washington’s effort to get vaccines around the world quickly.
“As our vaccine supply for the American people is secured, the administration will continue to ramp up its efforts—working with the private sector and all possible partners—to expand vaccine manufacturing and distribution,” she said. “It will also work to increase the raw materials needed to produce those vaccines.”