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BIG PHARMA reeled and MEPs called on the European Union to change course today after US President Joe Biden said that Washington would back a temporary patent waiver on Covid-19 vaccines.
Mr Biden’s announcement on Wednesday night affirmed a position he had taken in the presidential election, but marks a U-turn by Washington, which had led the European Union, Britain, Canada, Australia and Japan in resisting the demand from developing countries since last autumn.
French President Emmanuel Macron rushed to express support for his US counterpart’s decision, suddenly revealing that he “completely” supports lifting intellectual property protections under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules for the “global public good.”
In welcome news for poor nations, US backs waiver for coronavirus vaccine patents
World
File photo
US President Joe Biden s government has announced its support for a global initiative to waive patents for the coronavirus vaccines, as poor nations continue to struggle to get their populations vaccinated.
India, where the death toll hit a new daily record amid fears the peak is still to come, has been leading the fight within the World Trade Organization (WTO) to allow more drugmakers to manufacture the vaccines a move pharma giants oppose.
US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said that while intellectual property rights for businesses are important, Washington supports the waiver of those protections for Covid-19 vaccines in order to end the pandemic.
US announces support for waiver on coronavirus vaccine patents
By
US President Joe Biden signals during a speech. Photo: AFP
In what is being termed as a welcome development for poor nations, US President Joe Biden s administration has backed the initiative to waive global patent protections for coronavirus vaccines.
India, where the death toll hit a new daily record amid fears the peak is still to come, has been leading the fight within the World Trade Organization (WTO) to allow more drugmakers to manufacture the vaccines a move pharma giants oppose.
US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said that while intellectual property rights for businesses are important, Washington supports the waiver of those protections for Covid-19 vaccines in order to end the pandemic.