WTO hopeful of speeding up vaccine supply to poor countries
(VOVWORLD) - The head of the World Trade Organization said Saturday that there was a pathway for a global deal to get more COVID-19 vaccines to developing countries, despite a split over whether drugs firms should be stripped of their intellectual property rights.
 A new batch of COVID-19 vaccines arrive in Tunis, Tunisia, May 16, 2021 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) |
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, speaking to reporters before joining discussions among leaders of the Group of Seven nations, said she was hopeful there would be more clarity on the way ahead for the IP waiver issue by July.
WTO members agreed on Wednesday to start formal talks on a plan to boost COVID-19 vaccine supply to developing countries. Okonjo-Iweala hoped that this will happen in a way that can accelerate agreement into something pragmatic, that will work for developing countries and at the same time protect research and innovation.