In October 2020, India and South Africa proposed a waiver of World Trade Organization (WTO) intellectual property barriers that limit global production of COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments.

On March 15, 2022, a leaked text emerged that is dramatically different from -- and significantly worse than -- the original proposal. The worst elements of this proposal can be traced directly to the European Union and the United States. 

Civil society and academic experts around the world have called the leaked text “the lowest common denominator,” an “abomination,” and “worse than nothing.”  

But it’s not a done deal yet.

Leaked WTO Proposal WOULD UNDERMINE GLOBAL ACCESS TO MEDICINES

Public Health Experts Call for a #TrueTRIPSWaiver

In October 2020, India and South Africa proposed a waiver of World Trade Organization (WTO) intellectual property barriers that limit global production of COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments.

On March 15, 2022, a leaked text emerged that is dramatically different from — and significantly worse than — the original proposal. The worst elements of this proposal can be traced directly to the European Union and the United States. 

Civil society and academic experts around the world have called the leaked text “the lowest common denominator,” an “abomination,” and “worse than nothing.”  But it’s not a done deal yet. 

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Tell President Biden that this is unacceptable.

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THE PROPOSED TEXT

WORSE THAN THE STATUS QUO

It would actually impose new barriers on countries attempting to remove intellectual property barriers to increase COVID-19 medicines production.

A TRUE TRIPS WAIVER

Must actually waive TRIPS IP barriers that are preventing much of the world from ramping up production of life-saving medicines.

DOES NOT COVER TESTS & TREATMENTS

It would only cover vaccines, with tests and treatments ostensibly to be considered six months later. But the WTO is notorious for missing deadlines.

A TRUE TRIPS WAIVER

Must waive all IP protections for COVID-19 medical technologies needed to end the pandemic.

EXCLUDES ENTIRE COUNTRIES

It applies only to “developing countries” that “exported <10%” of the world’s vaccines in 2021. It may also inadvertently exclude least developed countries.

A TRUE TRIPS WAIVER

Must be universal in scope, allowing all qualified producers to ramp up production of vaccines, tests and treatments.

DOES NOT COVER ALL BARRIERS

It only covers patents, and not the other categories of IP addressed in the original proposal: trade secrets, undisclosed data, copyright, and industrial design.

A TRUE TRIPS WAIVER

Must waive all IP protections for COVID-19 medical technologies, not just patents.

CIVIL SOCIETY REACTIONS

IS NOT A REAL TRIPS WAIVER

It would actually impose new barriers on countries attempting to remove intellectual property barriers to increase COVID-19 medicines production.

A TRUE TRIPS WAIVER

Must actually waive TRIPS IP barriers that are preventing much of the world from ramping up production of life-saving medicines.

DOES NOT COVER TESTS & TREATMENTS

The leaked text would only cover vaccines, with tests and treatments ostensibly to be considered six months later. But the WTO is notorious for missing deadlines.

A TRUE TRIPS WAIVER

Must waive all IP protections for COVID-19 medical technologies needed to end the pandemic.

EXCLUDES ENTIRE COUNTRIES

It applies only to “developing countries” that “exported <10%” of the world’s vaccines in 2021. It may also inadvertently exclude least developed countries.

A TRUE TRIPS WAIVER

Must be universal in scope, allowing all qualified producers to ramp up production of vaccines, tests and treatments.

DOES NOT COVER ALL BARRIERS

It only covers patents, and not the other categories of IP addressed in the original proposal: trade secrets, undisclosed data, copyright, and industrial design.

A TRUE TRIPS WAIVER

Must waive all IP protections for COVID-19 medical technologies, not just patents.

Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch

www.tradewatch.org

IS EVEN WORSE THAN THE STATUS QUO

It would actually impose new barriers on countries attempting to remove intellectual property barriers to increase COVID-19 medicines production.

A TRUE TRIPS WAIVER

must actually waive TRIPS IP barriers that are preventing much of the world from ramping up production of life-saving medicines.

DOES NOT COVER TESTS & TREATMENTS

It would only cover vaccines, with tests and treatments "to be considered" six months later. The WTO is notorious for missing deadlines.

A TRUE TRIPS WAIVER

must waive all IP protections for COVID-19 medical technologies needed to end the pandemic.

EXCLUDES ENTIRE COUNTRIES

It applies only to “developing countries” that “exported <10%” of the world’s vaccines in 2021. It may also inadvertently exclude least developed countries.

A TRUE TRIPS WAIVER

must be universal in scope, allowing all qualified producers to ramp up production of vaccines, tests and treatments.

DOES NOT COVER ALL BARRIERS

It only covers patents, and not the other categories of IP addressed in the original proposal: trade secrets, undisclosed data, copyright, and industrial design.

A TRUE TRIPS WAIVER

must waive all IP protections for COVID-19 medical technologies, not just patents.

Tell President Biden that this is unacceptable.

SEND A TWEET

Tell Congress to contact the White House.

SEND AN EMAIL