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1 1 (March 25, 2022)

handle is hein.crs/goveflz0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional RgResearch Service informing the Iegislative debate since 1914___________________ Breakthrough on a Potential COVID-19 Intellectual Property Rights Waiver March 25, 2022 On March 15, 2022, the United States, the European Union (EU), India, and South Africa reached agreement on a proposed TRIPS patent waiver for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines. The Director-General (DG) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) welcomed the compromise among key players in the debate as a major step forward, but stressed the need to finalize details. The broader WTO membership is expected to discuss the proposed agreement as WTO decisions generally are by consensus. These developments present issues for Congress including regarding the congressional role, COVID-19 medical incentives and global vaccine access, and U.S. trade policy in advancing intellectual property rights (IPR). What is TRIPS? WTO Discussions The 1995 World Trade Organization (WTO) reement on Propelling the TRIPS waiver discussions were contains obligations for WTO members to protect India and South Africa's October 2020 proposal- patents and otherintelectual proper rights (PR). TRIPS and revised proposal, supported by many low- and also includes flexibilities, such as provisions for compulsory middle-income countries-for broader IPR Iicenses (Cs) of pharmaceutical patents under certain waivers covering COVID-19-related vaccines, conditions, and exemptions-which waivers have extended until 2033-for least-developed members from therapeutics, diagnostics, and other health pharmaceutical patent obligations. Uneven global access to products and technologies. In May 2021, the COVID-19 vaccines and treatments di tribution have Biden Administration supported the concept of an renewed debates over TRIPS' balance in supporting IPR waiver for COVID-19 vaccines; Members of innovation and access to medicines. Congress have supported and opposed the Administration's position. Some WTO members remained skeptical-the EU described existing TRIPS flexibilities as sufficient and proposed facilitating their greater use. The breakthrough arose from high-level talks, facilitated by the DG, among the United States, the EU, India, and South Africa, increasing prospects for convergence. Other members generally supported these efforts, but called for greater transparency. Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov IN11901 CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress -

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