Waive Intellectual Property Rights & Save Lives

By December 6, 2021 COVID-19, TRIPS
World Trade Organization

SouthViews no. 231 | 29 November 2021 | South Centre

In October of 2020, when India and South Africa proposed a waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS agreement, it was meant to increase local manufacturing capacity in these countries. The waiver was proposed as a tool to kick-start prevention, containment and treatment of COVID-19. While there is an imminent need to meet a growing supply-demand gap for all medical products, COVID-19 related products are urgently required in poorer nations to contain the pandemic. The waiver has an additional role to play in the larger trade schema. In enabling vaccination of populations across the globe, the waiver would be critical to normalize global trade. The paper below captures the benefits of the waiver and compares it with the existing flexibilities under the trade regime, being compulsory licensing.

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Waive IP Rights & Save Lives



About the Author

  • TradeRx Report Coordinator & Advisor
    Professor of Law and Director of India Programs, Texas A&M University School of Law.