Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make it his policy to support the recent decision of the United States Administration to support a temporary suspension of intellectual property rights for covid-19 vaccines; and if he will make a statement.
We are engaging constructively with the US and other WTO members on the TRIPS waiver issue. Any negotiations in the WTO on a waiver will require unanimous support, which could take a significant amount of time. Whilst we engage in the IP discussions, we must continue to push ahead with action such as voluntary licensing agreements for vaccines and support for COVAX.