KEI Briefing Note 2021:2 Canadian Experience with Compulsory Licensing under the Canadian Access to Medicines Regime
Trade
Some industry submissions for USTR’s 2021 Special 301
(More on the USTR Special 301. link) Attached are links to several of the industry submissions for the 2021 USTR Special 301 list. The Docket: USTR-2020-0041 PhRMA 2021 Special 301 Review Comment, and Correction to Comment BIO 2021 Special 301… Continue Reading
2021: KEI Comments to the USTR Special 301 Review
(More on the USTR Special 301. link) On Thursday January 28, 2021, Knowledge Ecology International (KEI) submitted comments to the US Trade Representative’s (USTR) Special 301 Review process. The USTR conducts an annual review of other countries’ intellectual property policies… Continue Reading
President Ursula von der Leyen on COVID-19 (Davos Agenda Week): “And now, the companies must deliver. They must honour their obligations.”
On Tuesday, 26 January 2021, Dr. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission delivered a special address at “Davos Agenda Week” devoting much of her speech to the European Union’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. While President von… Continue Reading
WTO TRIPS Council (October 2020): European Union dismisses concerns that IPRs are a barrier to COVID-19 medicines and technologies
On Friday, 16 October 2020, the European Union provided the following perspectives during a three hour debate on the proposed waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement for the prevention, containment and treatment of COVID-19 co-sponsored by Eswatini, Kenya,… Continue Reading
WTO TRIPS Council (July 2020): South Africa leads discussions on COVID-19
On 30 July 2020, the World Trade Organization (WTO) convened a formal meeting of the TRIPS Council. The TRIPS Council held discussions on two COVID-19 related topics: agenda item 3 on IP Measures in the Context of COVID-19 and agenda… Continue Reading
WTO race for Director-General: Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala addresses questions on trade, IP, and future COVID-19 vaccines
On 14 May 2020, Roberto Azevêdo, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) announced he would step down from his post as Director-General of the organization on 31 August 2020; to say this news was a surprise is an understatement… Continue Reading
WTO TRIPS Council (informal): South Africa’s interventions on COVID-19, TRIPS flexibilities, and domestic manufacturing capacity
On Friday, 19 June 2020, the World Trade Organization (WTO) convened an informal virtual Open-ended Meeting of the TRIPS Council. . The following statements were delivered by South Africa at the virtual open-ended informal meeting of the TRIPS Council. In… Continue Reading
While a major victory for Australia and public health, the WTO Appellate Body failed to address the legal status of the Doha Declaration
On June 9, 2020, the World Trade Organization (WTO) Appellate Body circulated its reports relating to the Australia – Tobacco Plain Packaging cases. The reports issued the decision regarding the appeals brought by Honduras and the Dominican Republic against the… Continue Reading
Copyright and related rights issues in the USTR Special 301 Report 2020
Since 1974, the “Special 301 Report” (the Report) provides an annual review of the state of intellectual property protection and enforcement among U.S. trading partners around the world. Amended in 1988 by Congress, the Trade Act is “to provide for… Continue Reading