TRIPS chair laments lack of progress in COVID-19 decision expansion talks

World Trade Organization negotiations on whether to expand a recent intellectual property-related decision on COVID-19 vaccines to cover tests and treatments remain stalled, with no text-based proposal on the table and no change in members’ positions – and a mid-December deadline quickly approaching. During an informal meeting of the Council on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights on Wednesday, members largely repeated their positions on the issue , according to a Geneva-based trade official familiar with the gathering. The lack...