EU proposes TRIPS waiver alternative to address vaccine access

The European Union on Friday proposed an alternative to the widely debated waiver of certain World Trade Organization intellectual property obligations – of which the bloc remains critical – outlining instead an initiative to limit export restrictions on COVID-19-related products, encourage expanded production of vaccines and facilitate intellectual property flexibilities, including issuing compulsory licenses. The proposal for the General Council comes ahead of next week’s meeting, in Geneva, of the Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, where members...