<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div class=""><i class="">Two articles below...</i></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Washington Trade Daily<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Volume 31, Number 242 Wednesday, December 7, 2022<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">US Seeks TRIPS Expansion Delay<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Geneva – The United States called yesterday for extending the deadline for expanding the World<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Trade Organization’s 12th ministerial conference decision on the TRIPS agreement to cover the<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">production and supply of COVID-19 tests and drugs beyond December 17, while many developing<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">countries said a decision is needed by that date.<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Washington supported the MC12 decision to cover COVID-19 vaccines – a position that helped<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">bring WTO members to a consensus.<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">But yesterday the United States, European Union and China, among other industrialized<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">countries, called for extending the December 17 deadline so that more discussions and consultations at<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">various levels can take place. They did not propose a new deadline.<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">The 65 co-sponsors of the original TRIPS waiver called for sticking to the deadline to extend the<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">TRIPS agreement to the production and supply of COVID-19 therapeutics and diagnostics.<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Switzerland was alone in outright opposing the TRIPS decision to diagnostics and therapeutics,<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">arguing there is no need to do so at this juncture, said people who attended the meeting informal TRIPS<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Council meeting yesterday.<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">US Wants More Information<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">At a green room meeting convened by WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala with<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">several countries before the informal TRIPS Council meeting yesterday, Deputy US Trade<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Representative Maria Pagan called for an extension to allow for further discussion. She said USTR is<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">asking the International Trade Commission to launch an investigation into COVID-19 diagnostics and<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">therapeutics and provide information on market dynamics to help inform the discussion around supply<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">and demand, price points, the relationship between testing and treating, and production and access.<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">The European Union apparently also suggested at the green room meeting the deadline should<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">be extended, while Brazil suggested a short extension of the deadline.<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Canada apparently proposed extending the deadline until the 13th ministerial conference, while<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Singapore said it would not be wise to extend it till the next ministerial meeting as it could then become<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">a bargaining chip for the proponents, said people familiar with the green room discussions.<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Mexico, Taipei and Thailand among others also supported the need for extending the deadline<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">without indicating any timeframe at the green room meeting, said people who asked not to be quoted.<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Other Countries Want Decision<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Those seeking a decision by December 17 at the green room include South Africa, India,<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Nigeria, Bangladesh, Argentina and Sri Lanka among others. They circulated a draft decision that<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">stated unambiguously that “the MC 12 Decision on the TRIPS agreement is extended mutatis mutandis<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">for the production and supply of COVID-19 therapeutics and diagnostics.”<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">More importantly, in line with paragraph six of the TRIPS Agreement on vaccines, the<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">proponents said “an eligible Member may apply the provisions of this Therapeutics and Diagnostics<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Decision until five years from the date of this Decision. Any extension of the MC 12 Decision on the<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">TRIPS Agreement pursuant to paragraph 6 shall apply to this Decision as well.”<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Hours before the beginning of the informal WTO’s TRIPS Council meeting, USTR issued a<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">statement announcing its support for a delay and that the ITC will undertake a probe.<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">In the statement, USTR Katherine Tai said that “over the past five months, USTR officials held<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">robust and constructive consultations with Congress, government experts, a wide range of stakeholders,<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">multilateral institutions, and WTO members.”<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Despite those discussion, “real questions remain on a range of issues, and the additional time,<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">coupled with information from the USITC, will help the world make a more informed decision on<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">whether extending the Ministerial Decision to COVID-19 therapeutics and diagnostics would result in<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">increased access to those products,” Ms. Tai said.<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">At the informal TRIPS Council meeting, several other industrialized countries echoed the same<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">positions as they did at the green room meeting, said people who asked not to be quoted.<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">The EU said it is open to advancing the discussions by addressing issues raised during the<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">discussions on the definition of COVID-19 therapeutics and diagnostics. The EU said a paper issued by<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Taiwan before the meeting could serve a useful purpose.<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">China apparently stressed that considering the divergent views expressed by members and the<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">limited time left before December 17, the extension of the deadline with a clearer way forward is the<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">most pragmatic solution. It also signaled flexibility to consider to the length of the extension.<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">India said members made strenuous efforts to achieve paragraph 8 of the Ministerial Decision,<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">which provided a clear deadline for members to decide on the extension of the decision to therapeutics<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">and diagnostics.<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">In this context, said India, the proposed General Council decision provides members with the<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">opportunity to explicitly state whether they agree to the extension of the decision to therapeutics and<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">diagnostics or whether they do not agree to the extension.<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">On behalf of the African Group, Tanzania said that diagnostics and therapeutics are central in<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">saving lives as vaccination alone reduces the risk of mortality but does not in any way prevent<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">transmissions or infections.<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">ITC Investigation<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">The ITC investigation will look at issues like:<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">! an overview of the products, focusing on WHO-approved COVID-19 diagnostics and<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">therapeutics, including key components, the production process, intellectual property protections, and a<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">description of the supply chain (including the level of diversification in the supply chain);<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">! information on the global manufacturing industry for these products, including<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">information on key producing countries, major firms, and production data, if available;<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">! information on the global market for COVID-19 diagnostics and therapeutics, including<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">information on demand and, to the extent practicable, an assessment of where unmet demand exists for<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">key products and contributing factors; market segmentation; and supply accumulation and distribution;<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">! data and information on global trade in COVID-19 diagnostics and therapeutics, if<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">available, or if not, data and information on global trade in diagnostics and therapeutics generally; and<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">! a brief overview/background of the relevant aspects of the TRIPS Agreement and the<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">United Nations (UN) Medicine Patent Pool (MPP) and a listing of countries seeking to use the<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Ministerial Decision and those utilizing access to COVID-19 medicines under the MPP.<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: rgb(31, 56, 100);" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> </div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px;" class=""><font color="#222222" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class=""><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2022/12/06/heartbreaking-and-pathetic-us-obstructs-patent-waiver-covid-tests-and-treatments?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1670422600" class="">https://www.commondreams.org/news/2022/12/06/heartbreaking-and-pathetic-us-obstructs-patent-waiver-covid-tests-and-treatments?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1670422600</a></span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;" class=""><font color="#222222" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class=""><br class=""></span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;" class=""><h1 class="mb-2" id="node-title">'Heartbreaking' and 'Pathetic': US Obstructs Patent Waiver for Covid Tests and Treatments</h1><div class="block"><div class="text-lg tracking-tighter headline__field-subtitle leading-tightest"><b class="">"There
have been at least 290,000 deaths from Covid-19 since the WTO punted on
the question of global access to tests and treatments back in June,"
said one advocate. "How many more need to die before the U.S. joins the
right side of history?"</b></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><div class="block"><div class="d-flex py-5 align-items-start"><div class="d-flex mr-4 author-images"><div class="overflow-hidden border-white rounded-circle border-2" style="z-index: 0;"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/article_author/public/2021-06/kenny-stancil-commondreams-bw-200x200.png?h=55541bb6&itok=y1MfFltz" alt="" pinger-seen="true" width="60" height="60" class=""></div></div><div class=""><p class="font-weight-bold text-xs text-uppercase mb-0"> <span about="/author/kenny-stancil" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" lang="en" class=""><a style="color: inherit;" href="https://www.commondreams.org/author/kenny-stancil" class="">Kenny Stancil</a></span></p> <span class="text-xs"> <time datetime="2022-12-06T14:25:29" class="">December 6, 2022</time> </span></div></div></div><div class="block"><div class="headline__body prose node__body"><p class=""><strong class="">Global health campaigners denounced</strong>
U.S. President Joe Biden's administration for refusing to support a
temporary suspension of patents for Covid-19 tests and treatments this
year, a move that further delays the possibility of securing a World
Trade Organization intellectual property waiver aimed at increasing
access to lifesaving medical tools in developing nations.</p><p class="">In a <a href="https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2022/december/us-support-extension-deadline-wto-trips-ministerial-decision-requests-usitc-investigation-provide-0?link_id=1&can_id=75ac2e05a95be8abf80df70bdac1c9ea&source=email-40-civil-society-groups-urge-action-on-covid-tests-treatments-2&email_referrer=email_1758845&email_subject=statement-on-ustrs-covid-test-and-treatment-announcement" class="">statement</a>
released on Tuesday morning, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai
said that "over the past five months, USTR officials held robust and
constructive consultations with Congress, government experts, a wide
range of stakeholders, multilateral institutions, and WTO members."</p><p class="">Tai continued:</p><blockquote class=""><p class="">Real
questions remain on a range of issues, and the additional time, coupled
with information from the USITC [United States International Trade
Commission], will help the world make a more informed decision on
whether extending the ministerial decision to Covid-19 therapeutics and
diagnostics would result in increased access to those products.
Transparency is critical and USTR will continue to consult with
Congress, stakeholders, and others as we continue working to end the
pandemic and support the global economic recovery.</p></blockquote><p class="">As <em class="">Bloomberg</em> <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-12-05/us-won-t-back-2022-patent-waivers-for-covid-tests-and-treatments?leadSource=uverify%20wall" class="">reported</a>,
investigations of the sort that Tai wants the USITC to pursue "can take
nine months to a year to complete," pushing the prospects for a
comprehensive waiver of the WTO's Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of
Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) well into 2023 or beyond.</p><p class="">Dr. Mohga Kamal-Yanni, policy co-lead for the People's Vaccine Alliance, <a href="https://peoplesvaccine.org/resources/media-releases/pathetic-for-the-us-to-kick-wto-covid-test-and-treatment-deal-into-the-long-grass-campaigners-say/" class="">said</a>
in response that "it is heartbreaking to see the Biden administration
succumb to pressure from pharmaceutical company lobbyists and their
henchmen in Congress."</p></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><p class="">"This moment of weakness will cost countless lives in low- and
middle-income countries, leading to continued economic devastation,"
said Kamal-Yanni, "while a handful of pharmaceutical CEOs and
shareholders will get even richer."</p><p class="">"The U.S. has had more than
two years to meaningfully engage in WTO negotiations over access to
lifesaving tests and treatments," she added. "Kicking the issue further
into the long grass, just as the negotiating deadline approaches, is
pathetic."</p><p class="">This sentiment was echoed by Arthur Stamoulis, executive director of the Trade Justice Education Fund.</p><p class="">"There
have been at least 290,000 deaths from Covid-19 since the WTO punted on
the question of global access to tests and treatments back in June," <a href="https://tradejusticeedfund.org/statement-on-the-biden-administrations-support-for-extending-deadline-on-covid-test-treatment-access/" class="">said</a> Stamoulis. "How many more need to die before the U.S. joins the right side of history?"</p><p class="">"We're
in the third year of the pandemic and billions of people worldwide
still don't have access to Covid tests, vaccines, and medicines,"
Stamoulis continued.</p><p class="">Large swaths of the Global South have been <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2022/08/26/global-survey-details-how-poor-nations-have-been-abandoned-during-covid-response" class="">deprived</a> of <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(22)00320-6/fulltext" class="">lifesaving</a> Covid-19 medical tools and remain completely unprotected, with <a href="https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations" class="">less than 25%</a> of people in low-income countries having received at least one vaccine dose to date.</p><p class="">Experts have long <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2022/04/13/rich-nations-big-pharma-still-blocking-early-exit-pandemic-experts" class="">argued</a>
that pausing enforcement of the corporate-friendly TRIPS Agreement for
the duration of the pandemic would remove the intellectual property
barriers standing in the way of increased generic manufacturing.
However, in June, Big Pharma-aligned policymakers—most of them from
highly vaccinated rich countries—<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2022/06/17/after-wto-failure-nations-urged-outright-defy-pharma-patent-rules-fight-covid" class="">defeated</a> a popular proposal to waive coronavirus-related patents to boost the global supply of jabs, diagnostics, and therapeutics.</p><p class="">Instead,
the WTO, which operates on the consensus of its 164 members, adopted a
watered-down alternative pertaining only to vaccines—<a href="https://www.citizen.org/news/cso-statements-in-response-to-shameful-result-on-intellectual-property-and-covid-at-12th-wto-ministerial/" class="">described</a>
by critics as worse than the status quo—and vowed to decide whether to
extend the decision to cover tests and treatments within six months. The
Biden White House's new demand for a delay—in which they joined the
European Union, United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and
Switzerland—comes just days before the December 17 deadline.</p><p class="">As
Knowledge Ecology International director James Love pointed out on
social media, the U.S. government blocked the proposed TRIPS waiver for
tests and treatments after telling the World Health Organization that it
is opposed to including intellectual property flexibilities in an
emerging WHO pandemic treaty "because that's a conversation for the
WTO."</p><div class=""><p class="">Meanwhile, the <a href="https://149754478.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/EXPANDING-GLOBAL-ACCESS-TO-COVID-TESTS-TREATMENTS_102822.pdf" class="">need</a>
for improved access to tests and treatments is particularly acute in
poor countries, given the ongoing severity of global vaccine apartheid.</p><p class="">The WHO <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/act-accelerator-facilitation-council-working-group-report-on-diagnostics-and-therapeutics" class="">estimates</a>
that just one in every 50 tests is administered in low- and
middle-income nations home to 84% of the global population. While
publicly available data on treatment access is sparse, a recent analysis
from Oxfam and the People's Vaccine Alliance <a href="https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/just-quarter-pfizers-covid-19-treatment-orders-will-go-developing-countries" class="">shows</a> that just a quarter of <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2022/04/22/who-warns-poor-nations-could-be-pushed-end-queue-pfizer-covid-pill" class="">Pfizer's Paxlovid pill</a> orders are destined for developing countries.</p><p class="">Pfizer's <a href="https://medicinespatentpool.org/news-publications-post/pfizer-and-the-medicines-patent-pool-mpp-sign-licensing-agreement-for-covid-19-oral-antiviral-treatment-candidate-to-expand-access-in-low-and-middle-income-countries" class="">licensing agreement</a>
with the United Nations-backed Medicines Patent Pool enables other
drugmakers to produce its pill for generic consumption in just 95
countries representing 53% of the global population. As a result, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/11/16/far-enough-pfizers-covid-drug-license-excludes-almost-half-global-population" class="">excluded</a> countries, many of which are not wealthy, may be <a href="https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/just-quarter-pfizers-covid-19-treatment-orders-will-go-developing-countries" class="">forced</a> to pay $250 per course rather than $25.</p><p class="">Globally, the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has caused more than <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2022/05/05/who-says-pandemic-has-killed-15-million-people-nearly-3-times-more-reported" class="">15 million</a> deaths directly and indirectly, and the disease alone continues to kill roughly <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/world/covid-cases.html" class="">1,500 people per day</a>.</p><p class="">The
profoundly inequitable allocation of medicines—fueled by high-income
nations snatching up a disproportionate share of vaccines, tests, and
treatments and pharmaceutical corporations refusing to share knowledge
and technology—has exacerbated <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2022/03/28/covid-19-vaccine-apartheid-exacerbating-global-inequalities-un" class="">avoidable suffering</a>. Artificially imposed scarcity and uneven distribution also enables the coronavirus to continue circulating and mutating, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2022/09/23/blood-your-hands-if-global-poor-hit-covid-wave-who-official-tells-rich-nations" class="">increasing</a> the likelihood of a vaccine-resistant variant emerging.</p><p class="">A recent investigation <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2022/11/10/outrage-investigation-shows-how-big-pharma-snuffed-out-vaccine-patent-waiver" class="">revealed</a>
the extent to which Big Pharma has lobbied against a robust
intellectual property waiver for Covid-19 jabs, diagnostics, and
therapeutics—and worsened <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2022/03/03/after-two-years-covid-report-finds-pandemic-made-far-deadlier-greed" class="">deadly inequality</a> in the process.</p><p class="">Tai's
"call for 'more information' cannot be an excuse for inaction,"
Stamoulis said Tuesday. "While pharmaceutical monopolies make billions,
people are still dying, others are getting long Covid, the economy is
suffering, and new variants remain a constant threat."</p><p class="">"It's long
past time," he added, "for the Biden administration to support the
modest changes to WTO pharmaceutical monopoly protections standing in
the way of Covid test and treatment access around the world."</p></div></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">
Arthur Stamoulis<br class="">Citizens Trade Campaign<br class="">(202) 494-8826<br class=""><br class=""><br class=""><br class="">
</div>
<br class=""></body></html>