U.S. urges all WTO members to support intellectual property waiver for COVID-19 vaccines

U.S. urges all WTO members to support intellectual property waiver for COVID-19 vaccines The White House on Thursday called on all World Trade Organization members to support an intellectual property waiver for COVID-19 vaccines. Reuters Reuters

WASHINGTON, Oct 21 (Reuters) - The White House on Thursday called on all World Trade Organization members to support an intellectual property waiver for COVID-19 vaccines.

"We ... need every WTO member to step up as well and support an intellectual property waiver, and every company must act ambitiously and urgently to expand manufacturing now," White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters.

A year after South Africa and India introduced a proposal to temporarily waive intellectual property rights on COVID-19 vaccines and therapies at the WTO, negotiations have failed to make any progress. read more

More than 100 countries backing the waiver say it will help save lives by allowing developing countries to produce COVID-19 vaccines, but the European Union and several countries, including Switzerland, remain opposed. ...