As Biotech Groups Lobby Against IP Waiver, USTR Stays The Course

Despite widespread lobbying from civil society groups, lawmakers and industry groups over a proposed waiver of some World Trade Organization intellectual property obligations to fight the pandemic, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has largely not strayed from its initial announcement, leaving stakeholders in the dark about the United States’ agenda. The talks over the waiver have largely stalled amid ongoing opposition from the European Union and others as well as disagreements among supporters over the scope and implementation...