The group, which does not include the United States or China, wants WTO members to commit to removing drug export restrictions – another 70 still have, according to EU officials.
The European Union (EU), Canada and 11 other countries agreed on Monday on measures such as the lifting of sanctions they believe should be the basis for a global agreement to help deal with Covid-19 and the upcoming epidemic.
The “Ottawa Group” will present its proposals to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in mid-December in the hope that 164 of its members will sign in early 2021.
“If we adopt something early in the spring of next year,” said March, “that could be a time when this would be appropriate for the management of the epidemic,” said a European Commission official, adding that this would involve a time when policies could be developed and distributed.
The group, which does not include the United States or China, wants WTO members to commit to removing drug export restrictions – another 70 still have, according to EU officials.
Any such restrictions should be targeted and interim and should not interfere with COVAX’s move to provide Covid-19 drug equality.
WTO members should, say, take steps to reduce business travel, such as cultural rescue, and not to force epidemic-related assets during a disaster.
They also promote greater transparency and believe that the WTO, World Health Organization and World Customs Organization can work very closely to prepare for the coming epidemic.
Group action is not the only one related to the WTO epidemic.
India, South Africa and other developing countries want to loosen up commodity laws to improve access to affordable drugs.
The European Union, the United States and other rich countries are opposed to this, saying that pharmaceutical companies need funding to promote drugs and therapies and that there is enough flexibility under existing trade laws.