USTR’s Katherine Tai discusses WTO, India with AstraZeneca and Pfizer heads

There was a specific discussion around the COVID-19 wave currently underway in India during Ms Tai’s meetings

United States Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai met with the heads of vaccine manufacturers Pfizer and AstraZeneca on Tuesday and discussed the role of developing countries in addressing global gaps in vaccine production and distribution. There is growing pressure on the U.S. — both at home and abroad — to support an Indian and South African initiative at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) that will waive intellectual property rights temporarily to address COVID-19 related medical shortages. Ms Tai committed to working with WTO members on global response to the pandemic including the role of developing countries in addressing gaps in the production and distribution of vaccines, the USTR office said. There was a specific discussion around the COVID-19 wave currently underway in India during Ms Tai’s meetings (which appeared to be separate) with Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla, and AstraZeneca US Head Ruud Dobber. U.S. government assistance to India and the messaging around it kicked into high gear over the weekend, after about a week of mostly silence, for which the Biden administration has been widely criticized.