Coalition Letter to USTR and U.S. Commerce Dept. Voicing Opposition to “TRIPS” Waiver

By SBE Council at 2 June, 2022, 9:03 am

On June 2, SBE Council joined a coalition letter to United States Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine C. Tai and U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to express opposition to the proposal before the World Trade Organization (WTO) that would waive IP protections for COVID-19 vaccines that exists under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).  As noted in the letter:

“Rather than supporting proposals that undermine American medical innovation to the benefit of foreign rivals like Communist China, we urge you to pursue proposals that help American workers and businesses through measures that reduce government interference, lower taxes, and help promote American competitiveness.”

Supporters of this proposal are pushing for it to be adopted ahead of the WTO’s Ministerial Conference on June 12-15. If adopted, WTO members including China and Russia would be permitted to use compulsory licensing to seize the patents of American developed COVID-19 vaccines.

Read the full letter here.