India, 82 others for changes in draft report of WTO

India, South Africa and Pakistan, along with 80 other countries want a draft report of the World Trade Organization (WTO) amended that calls for an extension of talks to June 30, 2023 for a global patent waiver for Covid-19 diagnostics and therapeutics. The US, Singapore and China have supported delaying the deadline which is December 17.

The draft report was prepared by the council chair, ambassador Lansana Gberie of Sierra Leone.

At an informal Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Council meeting of the WTO on Thursday, they said the decision to give the waiver to Covid-19 tests and treatments should be taken by the first General Council meeting in 2023. The council is the WTO’s apex decision making body. The waiver is in place for Covid vaccines only at present.


“They also wanted the report to acknowledge the leading role of WHO in coordinating the global response in the fight against Covid-19,” said a Geneva-based official.

India and others submitted a draft text last week proposing that the World Trade Organization ministerial council be “extended mutatis mutandi for the production and supply of Covid-19 therapeutics and diagnostics”.

Intense parleys are expected as countries try and find common ground on the factual report before the December 17 deadline and the meeting of the General Council next week.

Developed countries including Switzerland, the EU, the US and the UK favoured adopting the chair’s report without any changes.