US backs freeing up vaccines

Waiving patent protections seen as way to boost global supplies

US Trade Representative Katherine Tai on Wednesday restated the Joe Biden administration's position on Wednesday during talks at the World Trade Organization on support for the temporary waiver of protections that would allow more manufacturers to produce COVID-19 vaccines, but opponents call the move no panacea to the pandemic.

US President Joe Biden earlier on Wednesday said that he supported the waiver, which has been pursued by more than 100 countries.

The WTO's General Council took up the issue of a temporary waiver in October. The idea has gained support among some progressive lawmakers in the West. A group of 110 Democratic members of Congress sent Biden a letter last month calling on him to support the waiver.