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UK statement during the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Council on 18 November 2021.

Thank you, Chair and good morning colleagues

We welcome the status report as it was delivered and support its adoption. The report is factual, objective, and accurately reflects developments at the TRIPS Council.

Ahead of MC12, the UK has held an intensive series of bilateral meetings with Members on all sides of the debate. While we are not yet able to reach consensus, we’re grateful for the valuable discussion and constructive tone. The UK is continuing to hold bilateral discussions with an aim to finding a pragmatic solution.

What we all agree on is the need for a trade and health outcome at MC12, which promotes vaccine production and supports equitable vaccine distribution. In this regard, we continue to emphasise the role of the international IP framework including the use of TRIPS flexibilities and wider trade and non-trade related initiatives to scale up and improve access to COVID-19 goods.

Our collective focus must remain on ensuring the production of COVID-19 vaccines and other goods continues to rise, but also on their equitable distribution and administration to contain, treat, and prevent COVID-19. The UK is committed to continuing to support a multifaceted and pragmatic response, and we will work hard to achieve a multilateral outcome on trade and health at MC12.

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