Trade fight between US and China could ruin bid for vaccine patent waiver

A lab technician checks Covid-19 vaccines in Beijing. Picture: BLOOMBERG/KEVIN FRAYER/GETTY IMAGES.

“The second-largest economy in the world, which has Covid-19 vaccines and mRNA technology, doesn’t need the waiver,” deputy US trade representative Maria Pagan told Bloomberg News in an interview. “What we want is clarity.” At the same time, the latest WTO impasse may be welcomed by pharmaceutical groups that argue an IP waiver is unnecessary at a time when the supply of Covid-19 vaccines has outstripped demand.

WTO members met informally in Geneva on Monday ahead of the June ministerial gathering with a view to finding common ground. During the meeting, a Chinese delegate described the issue as a red line, according to an official who was in attendance.

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