Group B efforts to block discussion of treaty

Group B has offered amendments to a proposed conclusion for the WIPO SCCR 18 meeting. The amendments are designed to eliminate any agreement to discuss a treaty for blind and reading disabled persons at the next meeting of the SCCR. The United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Norway, the Holy See (the Vatican), the members of the European Union and other high income countries have joined in this statement. Later the EU offered an even blunter opposition to the treaty proposals. I have blogged about our disappointment in the Obama Administration on the Huffington Post here.

Who are members of Group B? We are trying to get a list. Group B includes: 17 members of the European Union (not including the 10 EU member countries that are members of Eastern European and Baltic states group in WIPO) plus the European Union itself, and the following countries:

Australia
Canada
Japan
New Zealand
Norway
Switzerland
the Holy See
United States

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