India may oppose EU vaccine proposal

The EU has proposed that export curbs be kept to a minimum and wants vaccine developers to ink deals with producers in developing countries to facilitate increased supplies. It also suggested that members make use of compulsory licenses for vaccines to augment their availability and that existing flexibilities in the World Trade Organization (WTO) should continue to be used to combat the Covid-19 pandemic in lieu of a special waiver. India is likely to oppose this proposal.

This proposal by the 27-country bloc now has the support of more than 130 countries, including the United States and China. “The EU is also ready to participate in other points related to the facilitation of the use of compulsory licenses as provided in the Travel Agreement,” an official said.

“The EU is also ready to participate in other points related to the facilitation of the use of compulsory licenses as provided in the Travel Agreement,” said an official. Meanwhile, an expert commented “What the EU has proposed is essentially back-door trade liberalization and just a waiver of notification requirements.”