It was the most hotly debated issue in the run-up to MC12 and at the very last minute, negotiations nearly broke down because of a footnote. The issue was the WTO's intellectual property response to the COVID-19 pandemic, commonly known as the TRIPS waiver. There is good news to report in this episode as WTO members agreed at MC12 to waive certain requirements under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) making it easier for developing countries to produce and export COVID-19 vaccines.

Anabel González, WTO Deputy Director-General and Ambassador Lansana Gberie of Sierra Leone, the chair of the TRIPS Council, talk about how WTO members adopted a problem-solving approach on the waiver issue and agreed on a strategy to ensure trade can support the expanded and diversified production of essential goods needed in the fight against COVID-19 and future pandemics.