Updated on 06/17/2022 at 16:28
- The 164 members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) reached an agreement.
- Topics like corona patents, fishing and streaming services are affected.
- NGOs criticize the decision on COVID-19 because it only includes vaccines and not other medicines.
After a long struggle, the 164 members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) reached an agreement to expand the production of vaccines against the corona. Governments should be able to temporarily circumvent drug company patents more easily to save lives. While the federal government expressed satisfaction with the advance on Friday morning, both the pharmaceutical industry and civil society groups criticized the agreement.
An agreement was also reached against harmful fishing subsidies. However, one controversial sub-area had to be excluded for now. In addition, ministers extended an agreement not to levy tariffs on cross-border digital commerce – for example, on streaming services. Trade ministers pledged to limit the use of export restrictions in a declaration on food security and adopted a roadmap for reforms at the WTO. The partially stalled dispute settlement mechanism should be fully functional again in two years. Reforms and the restoration of dispute settlement were the priorities of the German export economy.
First WTO agreement in years
It was the first time in years that the WTO had reached an agreement. The organization threatened to sink into insignificance. Then US President Donald Trump wanted to resign. When this conference also threatened to fail, WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala pushed for an extension on Wednesday. “You don’t go home empty-handed,” the 68-year-old said at sunrise on Friday. “The WTO has demonstrated that it is capable of responding to the challenges of our time,” said the Nigerian.
The Federal Ministry of Economy praised the patent agreement, known as the “Trips Waiver” – that is, limitations of the Trips Agreement on intellectual property. The US had already declared its support for such a measure in 2021. Governments could thus issue compulsory licenses for the production of vaccines against COVID-19 against the will of pharmaceutical companies without questioning the protection of intellectual property in general, as I said. German Secretary of State Udo Philipp. Compulsory licenses were also possible before, but now they go a little further in some areas.
Possible additional compulsory licenses for corona vaccine
Pharmaceutical association IFPMA expressed disappointment. It’s a dangerous signal for science. Full patent rights are needed to bring about innovations. The German pharmaceutical industry made a similar statement: “Here, patent law is being used politically rather than tackling the problems that actually exist,” said Han Steutel, president of the Research-Based Medicines Manufacturers Association. The production of corona vaccines is no longer the problem.
On the contrary, there is an oversupply. According to Steutel, easing patent protection would only result in more inventory being produced. Companies often invest years in drug and vaccine research. Only a fraction is successful. Companies then want to make money from the products through license protection.
NGOs: Agreements don’t go far enough
Organizations such as the People’s Vaccine Alliance or Oxfam, on the other hand, have criticized the agreement as ineffective – also because it only includes vaccines and not drugs and diagnostics. Due to the many conditions, little remains of the original demand for patents to be revoked.
“It’s shameful that WTO members prioritize trying to save a sick institution and obscene corporate profits over saving lives,” said Melinda St. Louis of Public Citizen. The EU, in particular, has blocked a genuine revocation of patent rights. Doctors Without Borders also sees little benefit: “The measures will not act against pharmaceutical monopolies or guarantee affordable access to life-saving medical help.”
Fisheries agreement has been negotiated for over 20 years
The fisheries agreement has been negotiated for over 20 years. Subsidies for illegal and unregulated fishing must be banned. Other subsidies that contribute to overfishing must be renegotiated. “However, in the end, we managed to find a compromise that all 164 WTO members could support and thus make an important contribution to sustainability in global fisheries,” said Secretary of State Philipp. The Pew Charitable Trusts, an organization committed to sustainable fisheries, was pleased. It is a turning point in the fight against one of the main causes of global overfishing. (dpa/okb)