RT @pretpat
What has been the impact of the #TRIPSWaiver discussions at @wto on the wider international processes including at @who & at the United Nations Human Rights Council?

My intervention at a recent side-event by @SexualRights at #HRC52 in Geneva last month.
https://lnkd.in/ePgeJeNA https://twitter.com/SexualRights/status/1645766802805252096

U.S. International Trade Commission to Investigate COVID-19 Diagnostics and Therapeutics Market and Potential TRIPS Waiver; Public Hearing in March 2023 https://www.ropesgray.com/en/newsroom/alerts/2023/02/us-international-trade-commission-to-investigate-covid-19-diagnostics-and-therapeutics-market-and #TRIPSwaiver #COVID19 #accesswmeds

What crazy #fantasies did you have when you were young?
Me? That the patents on the #covid19 #vaccine could be waived. I tell this story in my latest paper (in French).

A tiny context: in 2021, we wrote this: https://seminairep4.wordpress.com/open-letter-on-vaccines-against-sars-cov2/

#peoplesvaccine #VaccineApartheid #NoProfitOnPandemic #TRIPSWaiver #pandemic #covidpandemic #intellectualproperty #patents

South Centre Statement on the extension of the TRIPS waiver for diagnostics and therapeutics for COVID-19 (9 January 2023)

Developing countries should consider options that can be implemented now to deal with IP barriers to expand production and access to COVID-19 therapeutics and diagnostics, while the so far elusive decision on whether to extend a TRIPS waiver to cover these products is taken by WTO.

https://www.southcentre.int/statement-on-extension-of-trips-waiver-for-covid-19-diagnostics-therapeutics-9-january-2023/ #COVID19 #access2meds #TRIPSwaiver

South Centre Statement on the extension of the TRIPS waiver for diagnostics and therapeutics for COVID-19 (9 January 2023)

Developing countries should consider options that can be implemented now to deal with IP barriers to expand production and access to COVID-19 therapeutics and diagnostics, while the so far elusive decision on whether to extend a TRIPS waiver to cover these products is taken by WTO.

https://www.southcentre.int/statement-on-extension-of-trips-waiver-for-covid-19-diagnostics-therapeutics-9-january-2023/ #COVID19 #access2meds #TRIPSwaiver

On Dec 20, #WTO members meeting as the General Council finally agreed to postpone the deadline for a decision on expanding the COVID-19 patent waiver.

They did not set a new deadline, but agreed to consider the situation at the next General Council meeting, which could be Mar 2-3, 2023.

A text apparently agreed on Dec 16 was challenged on Dec 19, holding up consensus for 24 hours.

#TRIPSwaiver

https://tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2022/10/04/updates-expanding-the-wto-intellectual-property-waiver-for-covid-19/

UPDATE Dec 16—WTO members agreed to postpone indefinitely their Dec 17 deadline for a decision on whether to expand to tests & treatments, the waiver on patents for COVID-19 vaccines.

They shredded their chair’s factual report on months of debate.

Instead they will submit to the General Council, Dec 19–20, a short paragraph said to have been drafted by US Ambassador Maria Pagán.

https://tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2022/10/04/updates-expanding-the-wto-intellectual-property-waiver-for-covid-19/

#WTO #TRIPSwaiver

Gberie said that if by Friday morning (December 16) agreement is reached on the text, he will submit it to the General Council on behalf of the intellectual property council. If that fails, he will submit his text under his own responsibility.

#WTO #TRIPSwaiver

https://tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2022/10/04/updates-expanding-the-wto-intellectual-property-waiver-for-covid-19/

Gberie’s report outlined the meetings over the past few months and summarised members’ positions. It observed the continuing lack of consensus.

The EU, Switzerland, UK, US liked the report. Egypt, India, South Africa, Sri Lanka. African Group didn’t.

#WTO #TRIPSwaiver

https://tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2022/10/04/updates-expanding-the-wto-intellectual-property-waiver-for-covid-19/

UPDATE Dec 15—WTO intellectual property negotiators continued to be divided, not only on expanding the wavier, but also on the draft factual report prepared by their chair, Sierra Leone Ambassador Lansana Gberie for the General Council on Dec 19–20.

#WTO #TRIPSwaiver

https://tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2022/10/04/updates-expanding-the-wto-intellectual-property-waiver-for-covid-19/

Another interesting “Trade Secrets”: including US use of national security to justify protectionist trade barriers, its latest moves on the #TRIPSwaiver, and implications for #WTO

➡️ https://www.ft.com/content/04b2cf59-7781-40f1-8987-f22b2284b5cd

An observation on #TRIPSWaiver:

Convenient but misleading shorthand: a decision “to waive patents”.

The June decision waives the OBLIGATION to protect patents.

So far no country has suspended patent protection.⬇️

https://tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2022/10/04/updates-expanding-the-wto-intellectual-property-waiver-for-covid-19/

ICYMI. This⬇️ has been updated with this week’s developments in the #WTO talks on expanding—to tests and treatments—the present waiver on patent protection for COVID-19 vaccines.

A draft text on the proposal has finally been circulated, but it lacks consensus support. And the Dec 17 deadline will be missed following US announcements

#TRIPSwaiver

https://tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2022/10/04/updates-expanding-the-wto-intellectual-property-waiver-for-covid-19/

The USITC investigation is “to help inform the discussion around supply & demand, price points, the relationship between testing & treating, & production & access,” USTR says.

Follow updates on the #TRIPSwaiver—which suspends #WTO members’ obligation to protect key patent rights for COVID-19 vaccines—and the negotiations to expand this to COVID-19 therapeutics and diagnostics⬇️

https://tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2022/10/04/updates-expanding-the-wto-intellectual-property-waiver-for-covid-19/

During 2020-22 I connected with four colleagues to make the case for a waiver of intellectual property rights #TRIPSwaiver so more vaccines could be produced in times of catastrophic need. #VaccineEquity

I met two co-authors online. Intense outreach through seminars, hearings and debate followed. Work done by us and countless others might still transform #AccesstoMedicines

That was a gift of #Twitter.

Now I never see tweets from my collaborators. The damage to links unmade is incalculable.

No change in positions was reported when the #WTO intellectual property council met informally today.

The talks are on adding other products to the #TRIPSwaiver — the June decision to waive members' obligations to protect patents for COVID-19 vaccines.

https://tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2022/10/04/updates-expanding-the-wto-intellectual-property-waiver-for-covid-19/#22nov22

Trying out the elephant site!

Who should I follow for economics / intellectual property / trade policy stuff?

#copyright #patent #intellectualproperty #IP #internationaltrade #WIPO #education #economics #WTO #TRIPS #FTA #innovation #TRIPSwaiver #access #development

On that last point, here's an account of the #TRIPSwaiver debate among #WTO members.

It’s true that the positions were influenced by lobbying.

But there were also serious arguments made, which the Politico article treats as entirely the result of lobbying.

“8 reasons why countries disagree over a WTO intellectual property waiver” https://tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2022/02/22/8-reasons-waiver/

A behind-the-scenes account of the proposal in the #WTO to waive the obligation to protect patents etc for #covid19 vaccines and other products. #TRIPSwaiver

Observations:

1. Much of this is about the extent of lobbying. That’s unsurprising

2. You have to read a long way down to see the US “about-turn” was not what it seemed

3. It misses the in-depth discussion of what the waiver could actually achieve

https://www.politico.eu/article/covid-vaccine-poor-countries-waiver-killed/

Curious - has this Politico piece not yet reached Mastodon or am I searching wrong

#TRIPSWaiver

https://www.politico.eu/article/covid-vaccine-poor-countries-waiver-killed/

Who killed the #COVID19 vaccine #TRIPSwaiver? https://politico.eu/article/covid-vaccine-poor-countries-waiver-killed/ #access2meds #BigPharma #lobbying #influence