The United States Trade Representative, ambassador Katherine Tai, announced the Biden-Harris Administration’s support for waiving intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines.
“This is a global health crisis, and the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic call for extraordinary measures. 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. We will actively participate in text-based negotiations at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) needed to make that happen. Those negotiations will take time given the consensus-based nature of the institution and the complexity of the issues involved.”
“The Administration’s aim is to get as many safe and effective vaccines to as many people as fast as possible. As our veccine 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. It will also increase the raw materials needed to produce those vaccines”. This said literally the official communication published by Katherine Tai yesterday in the evening around 9:00 pm Spain time.
The call for a temporary waiver on intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines had been first presented before the World trade Organisation by India and South Africa.
The European Union will think about the propposal, but not in the short term
“Our priority is to ramp up production to achieve global vaccination.” said Ursula von der Leyen (President of EU Commission) on the waiver propposal supported by Biden. And she continued: “At the same time we are open to discuss any other effective and pragmatic solution.
In this context we are ready to assess how the US proposal could help achieve that objective.
“In the short run, however, we call upon all vaccine producing countries to allow export immediately and to avoid measures that disrupt the supply chains.
The EU is at the forefront of deliveries of effective vaccines to the rest of the world: So far, more than 200 million doses !. As much as have been delivered to Europeans.”
WHO Director General and Club de Madrid praise Biden’s support to the waiver
AI for Good Global Summit 2018. ITU Pictures through Wikimedia Commons.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised the commitment by the United States administration of President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris to support the temporary waiver of intellectual property on COVID-19 vaccines in a bold move to end the pandemic as quickly as possible.
“This is a monumental moment in the fight against COVID-19. The commitment by the President of the United States Joe Biden and Ambassador Katherine Tai, the US Trade Representative, to support the waiver of IP protections on vaccines is a powerful example of American leadership to address global health challenges,” said WHO Director General Dr. Tedros.
“I commend the United States on its historic decision for vaccine equity and prioritizing the well-being of all people everywhere at a critical time. Now let’s all move together swiftly, in solidarity, building on the ingenuity and commitment of scientists who produced life-saving COVID-19 vaccines.”
“The White House’s support for the temporary waiving of intellectual property on COVID-19 vaccines reflects the wisdom and moral leadership of the United States to work to end this pandemic. But I am not surprised by this announcement. This is what I expected from the Administration of President Biden.”
Club de Madrid members consider Biden’s decission a step in the right direction.
“As urged by 170+ heads of state and Nobel laureates, 46 Members of Club de Madrid, US backs waiver on COVID-19 vaccine intellectual property at WTO. A huge step in the right direction of POTUS for a global response,” sid Club de Madrid on a tweet published today.
Eastwind told last 15th April about the open letter issued by Club de Madrid and more than 170 heads of State and Nobel laureates calling President Biden to support a temporary waiver on intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines.
Image over the headline.- President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, joined by Vice President USA, Kamala Harris, delivers remarks on his “Buy American” initiative Monday, Jan. 25, 2021, in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House. Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz, through Wikimedia Commons. To watch the original photo and read the terms of the lisense, click here
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Ursula von der Leyen tweet on the waiver propposal (tweet 1)
Ursula von der Leyen tweet on the waiver propposal (tweet 2)
Ursula von der Leyen tweet on the waiver propposal (tweet 3)
