Weekly Policy Blog: USITC Report Released on TRIPS COVID-19 IP Waiver Expansion
In June 2022, World Trade Organization (WTO) member states agreed to waive certain WTO intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines. The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has been considering a proposal to expand that waiver, the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement waiver, to COVID-19 diagnostics and therapeutics. On October 17th, the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) released a report requested by the USTR on the proposal, in which the USITC analyzed various issues and information gaps related to COVID-19 diagnostics and therapeutics.
Although the report stopped short of making any recommendations, BIO’s Chief Policy Officer stated:
“This report reiterates our stance that there is no credible evidence supporting the need for an expanded TRIPs waiver — or other expansions that would…
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