World Trade Organization says its facing opposition to deal on vaccine distribution

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is facing opposition to a deal that would expand distribution of coronavirus vaccines in developing countries. 

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told Reuters there is an “orchestrated effort” to block a deal that would allow technology to be shared with manufacturers in developing countries.

“Ease of use, easy of distribution and affordability. These are things that could be unleashed much more if we came to these kinds of agreements,” Okonjo-Iweala said, per Reuters. 

“We are getting close to an answer, a solution,” she added. “On the other hand, it looks to me that there is an orchestrated effort to block success on the issue.”

Okonjo-Iweala said she has had conversations with trade ministers from India, South Africa, the European Union and the United States, but wouldn’t say who opposed the deal. 

The European Union, Britain and Switzerland have said countries should be allowed to give licenses to producers in low income countries within the boundaries of already established WTO rules, according to Reuters.

South Africa and India have said they would waive intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines so manufacturers could produce them without getting sued.

She said both sides of the debate have agreed to a framework for a deal and want a solution quickly. 

“No one side will get 100%, but it’s a satisfactory solution that I think both sides could sign onto. We are very much moving in that direction,” she said.

Leaks to the media about the deal have hindered negotiations, Okonjo-Iweala said, and it is unclear who is responsible for it, Reuters noted. 

“It’s not inadvertent. I think it’s a deliberate means of stopping negotiations and stopping an answer. The thing is millions of lives depend on this … continents like Africa are waiting for this,” she said.