South Africa on fire: closing innings at the WTO TRIPS Council (10 December 2020)

UPDATE (16 December 2020): The WTO General Council is meeting from Wednesday, 16 December 2020 to Friday, 18 December 2020 to discuss a number of matters including e-commerce, cotton, and TRIPS Council matters. Under agenda item 13, the Chair of… Continue Reading

WTO TRIPS Council – 20 November 2020 – South Africa’s defense of the TRIPS waiver

On Friday, 20 November 2020, the World Trade Organization (WTO) convened an informal, virtual meeting of the TRIPS Council to discuss a proposal (IP/C/W/669) co-sponsored by Eswatini, India, Kenya, and South Africa for a waiver from certain provisions of the… 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 (October 2020): Hungary answers queries posed by South Africa regarding Hungarian compulsory licensing provisions

At the October 2020 session of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) TRIPS Council, under agenda item 1, IP measures in the context of COVID-19, the European Union read out Hungary’s detailed responses to questions posed in July 2020 (at the… Continue Reading

WTO TRIPS Council (October 2020): South Africa issues clarion call urging support for TRIPS waiver proposal

On Friday, 16 October 2020, members of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) TRIPS Council held a three hour debate on the proposal (IP/C/W/669) first tabled by India and South Africa for a waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement… Continue Reading

WTO TRIPS Council: India and South Africa submit draft decision text on a waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement for the prevention, containment and treatment of COVID-19.

On Friday, 2 October 2020, the World Trade Organization (WTO) published a joint submission by India and South Africa on a draft decision text to the WTO TRIPS Council on a waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement for… Continue Reading

WTO TRIPS Council (July 2020): The European Union’s position on the interface of IP and health technologies in the COVID-19 response

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 TRIPS Council (July 2020): South Africa’s submission on IP and the Public Interest – Beyond Access to Medicines and Medical Technologies towards a more Holistic Approach to TRIPS Flexibilities

On Friday, 17 July 2020, South Africa submitted a paper to the World Trade Organization (WTO) TRIPS Council entitled, Intellectual Property and the Public Interest: Beyond Access to Medicines and Medical Technologies Towards a More Holistic Approach To TRIPS Flexibilities.… Continue Reading