[20220325]IN11901_突破潜在的2019冠状病毒疾病知识产权豁免.pdf

CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress INSIGHTINSIGHTi i Breakthrough on a Potential COVID-19 Intellectual Property Rights Waiver March 25, 2022 On March 15, 2022, the United States, the European Union (EU), India, and South Africa reached agreement on a proposed “TRIPS” patent waiver for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines. The Director-General (DG) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) welcomed the compromise among key players in the debate as a “major step forward,” but stressed the need to finalize details. The broader WTO membership is expected to discuss the proposed agreement as WTO decisions generally are by consensus. These developments present issues for Congress including regarding the congressional role, COVID-19 medical incentives and global vaccine access, and U.S. trade policy in advancing intellectual property rights (IPR). WTO Discussions Propelling the TRIPS waiver discussions were India and South Africas October 2020 proposaland revised proposal, supported by many low- and middle-income countriesfor broader IPR waivers covering COVID-19-related vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and other health products and technologies. In May 20