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U.S. and WTO chief push IP vaccine waiver

The United States and WTO chief backed waivers to vaccine patent protections aimed at speeding efforts to end the coronavirus pandemic.

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala leads a General Council meeting in Geneva
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala leads a General Council meeting in Geneva (AN/WTO)

WASHINGTON (AN) — U.S. President Joe Biden's administration committed to temporarily waiving vaccine patent protections, boosting efforts at the World Trade Organization to suspend intellectual property protections and speed up global vaccination campaigns that could more quickly end the coronavirus pandemic.

The administration's trade representative, Katherine Tai, announced on Wednesday the United States would support easing WTO rules on IP protections for COVID-19 vaccines and treatments just as WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala met in Geneva with trade diplomats grappling with the issue.

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