[CTC] Biden’s Support for TRIPS Waiver “Unquestionably the Right Thing to Do"

[Arthur Stamoulis]

THANK YOU everyone who pushed for this waiver!  More work is needed to see it through, but today you achieved a massive victory for humanity.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Arthur Stamoulis, (202) 494-8826 or arthur at citizenstrade.org <mailto:arthur at citizenstrade.org>

Biden’s Support for TRIPS Waiver “Unquestionably the Right Thing to Do"
Statement by Arthur Stamoulis, Executive Director, Citizens Trade Campaign

Washington, DC — In response to news that the United States is reversing its opposition rof a waiver <https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-05/u-s-to-back-waiver-of-vaccine-ip-protections-at-wto-tai-says> of intellectual property rules at the World Trade Organization so that COVID vaccines and treatments can be produced in as many places as possible as quickly as possible, Citizens Trade Campaign, which helped organize a 431-group letter in support of the waiver <https://www.citizenstrade.org/ctc/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/COVIDTRIPSWaiverSignOnLetter_022621.pdf> earlier this year, released the following statement by its executive director, Arthur Stamoulis:

"President Biden’s support for the TRIPS waiver is unquestionably the right thing to do for the world and the nation.  More work is needed to make sure the waiver moves forward as effectively as possible, but this has a real potential to help save lives, strengthen the economy, improve international relations and eventually end this awful pandemic.  

"As long as large populations anywhere have to wait to be vaccinated, not only will are their lives at risk, but we continue to risk a viral mutation that can evade current vaccines and start the pandemic all over again for everyone.  Our hope is that other opponents of the waiver quickly lift their blocks against it, and that speedy textual negotiations proceed to a final agreement that fully advances goal of the original proposal.  COVID vaccines were developed with broad public support, and everyone worldwide deserves access to them.

“President Biden’s willingness to support the waiver is a testament not only to his character, but to the excellent work of the hundreds of organizations and millions of individuals who urged this to happen."

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Arthur Stamoulis
Citizens Trade Campaign
(202) 494-8826





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