Biden backs waiver of intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines to speed pandemic’s end

WASHINGTON, DC — The Biden administration is throwing its support behind efforts to waive intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines in an effort to speed the end of the pandemic. United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced the government’s position in a Wednesday statement, amid World Trade Organization talks over easing global trade rules to enable more countries to produce more of the life-saving vaccines. Tai says, “The Administration believes strongly in intellectual property protections, but in service of ending this pandemic, supports the waiver of those protections for Covid-19 vaccines.” But she cautions that it will take time to reach the required global “consensus” to waive the protections under WTO rules.