Center for Medicine in the Public Interest Statement on ITC TRIPS Waiver Report
October 18, 2023, New York, NY. Yesterday, the U.S. International Trade Commission published its report on possible expansion of the TRIPS waiver on Covid-19 diagnostics and therapeutics. In response Center for Medicine in the Public Interest President and Co-Founder Peter Pitts issued the following statement:
"Now that the USITC has completed its investigation, it's time for the U.S. Trade Representative to make clear that the United States will not support an expanded TRIPS waiver -- and recommit the United States government to protecting American innovation at home and abroad.
"America led the world in developing Covid-19 vaccines and therapeutics because of our strong intellectual property protections. The world is now awash in vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics thanks to IP protections -- not despite them.
"Expanding the TRIPS Waiver is unnecessary and would also undermine America's ability to respond to future pandemics."
