The European Union is a significant force within the World Trade Organization, where unanimous approval by member countries would be required for any proposal to waive patents
A woman receives a COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination center in the Castello di Rivoli museum in Rivoli, Italy, on Thursday, April 29, 2021. Under growing pressure, the European Union is considering whether to follow the Biden administration’s decision to support a waiver of patent rights for COVID-19 vaccines as many poor and middle-income nations struggle to secure lifesaving doses.
Image: Alessandro Grassani/The New York Times
BRUSSELS — President Joe Biden’s about-face on pushing pharmaceutical companies to share vaccine patents, in an attempt to help poorer countries, faces a considerable challenge in Europe.
Under growing pressure, the European Union — whose approval would be needed — said Thursday it would consider the Biden administration’s decision to reverse course and support a waiver of patents for COVID-19 vaccines as many poor and middle-income nations struggle to secure lifesaving doses.
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