China backs India, SA proposal over IPR waiver for Covid-19 vaccines

Photo Credits: PTI

China has been extremely supportive towards the proposal by India and South Africa regarding a temporary waiver of Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) for vaccines against Covid-19, and said that it is inclined to all the measures which ensure fair access to the vaccines.

Zhao Lijan, Foreign Ministry spokesman stated on Monday, “China fully understands and is supportive of the developing world’s demand for an intellectual property rights waiver for COVID-19 vaccines.”

Lijan said to the South China Morning Post, “This would be in line with the idea that COVID-19 vaccines are a “global public good”, and part and parcel of (China’s ) efforts to build a global community of health for all.”

Earlier this week, Katherine Tai, US Trade Representative had a virtual meeting with the World Health Organization (WHO) Director – General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus for discussion regarding increased vaccine production along with the TRIPs waiver for the vaccines against Covid-19.

From the readout in her office, Tai spoke about the support extended by Biden-Harris’s administration for the waiver of the intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines and further explained about this adhering to the comprehensive measures initiated by the United States to extend vaccine manufacturing and distribution globally.

In October 2020, India and South Africa with 57 members of WTO had curated a proposal for waiver from specific provisions of the TRIPS agreement adhering to prevention, containment and treatment of Covid-19 infection.

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