Watchdog Slams Biden Administration for IP Agreement Jeopardizing Future Life Saving Innovation

For Immediate Release         Contact: Abigail Graham   (202- 417-7235)

March 25th, 2022                                        

Washington, D.C. – The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) strongly opposes the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) supposed agreement to waive intellectual property (IP) protections on COVID-19 vaccines.

TPA President David Williams offered the following comments after Reuters reported that the United States, European Union, India, and South Africa had reached a consensus on an IP waiver for COVID-19 vaccines:

“TPA strongly condemns recent reports that the USTR has reached a ‘compromise’ agreement on a World Trade Organization waiver that would authorize the production and supply of COVID-19 vaccines without the consent of the patent holders. This misguided decision would disincentive manufacturers from developing treatments and set a terrible precedent for America’s ability to fight emerging variants. Strong IP protections enshrined in the U.S. Constitution are critical to enabling American companies to lead the unprecedented development and deployment of the lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines. The consequences of waiving patents on these vaccines would jeopardize the end of this global health crisis.

Williams continued, “Getting more shots into arms in the United States and abroad is a crucial priority, and this reported deal damages those efforts. The USTR must reverse course and strengthen, not weaken, IP protections.”

###

Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to educating the public through the research, analysis and dissemination of information on the government’s effects on the economy.