Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) have been unable to reach a consensus on whether to extend the agreement reached in June pertaining to the intellectual property of Covid-19 vaccines (‘TRIPS waiver’) (see EUROPE 12974/2). There are one and a half months remaining to reach an agreement.
The situation is becoming worrying, according to Ambassador Langsana Gberie (Sierra Leone), who is chairing the discussions. At an informal meeting on the subject held on Wednesday 2 November, there was no sign of possible convergence, according to a source in Geneva.
The EU is among those members that want to see evidence that intellectual property issues constitute a real barrier to the wider distribution of diagnostic tools and treatments for Covid-19.
Despite Langsana Gberie’s request (see EUROPE 13042/20), members are still not working on written proposals.
Mexico and Switzerland have circulated a communication that sets out the state of supply and demand for the products in question. In their opinion, the available information shows that intellectual property is not a barrier to producing and supplying treatments and diagnostic tools. According to them, any extension of the flexibilities on intellectual property of these products would even have a detrimental effect on research and development.
The WTO intellectual property configuration is due to meet formally on 22 November. Members must come to an agreement by 17 December. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)