By Emma Farge

GENEVA (Reuters) – A year after South Africa and India introduced a novel proposal https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-wto/india-and-south-africa-ask-wto-to-waive-rules-to-aid-covid-19-drug-production-idUSKBN26P0H1 to temporarily waive intellectual property rights on COVID-19 vaccines and therapies at the World Trade Organization, negotiations are deadlocked and directionless, trade sources said on Monday after a meeting on the topic.

The waiver is supported by more than 100 countries. It allows developing countries to make COVID-19 vaccines. A few countries remain hostile to the waiver, which includes some that host major pharmaceutical companies like Switzerland. Washington threw its weight behind the proposal https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-trade-chief-says-wto-vaccine-talks-should-remove-obstacles-production-2021-05-12 in May, raising expectations of a breakthrough that has so far failed to materialise.

According to trade sources, DagfinnSorli appeared frustrated at Monday’s closed-door TRIPS Council meeting regarding the waiver and asked them: “Where do you go from there?”

The sources said that he encouraged delegates not to delay in providing advice about next steps. “I need your help,” he said to them.

According to one source, China described the meeting as “circular” and said that there was no progress. According to a source, India’s delegate claimed that members tried everything they could to avoid meaningful engagement.

This meeting was the last scheduled session about the waiver before a major ministerial confernce in November-December, which offers a rare chance for new trade agreements, such as those on intellectual property to be finalized.

Ngozi Okonjo Iweala (WTO Director-General) has identified vaccine inequity solutions as a priority area for the global trade organisation, which is currently facing doubts about its relevancy.

Medecins Sans Frontieres, an international medical charity, said Friday in a statement that it was important for the U.S. administration to urge all countries who are opposed to the waiver change their position.

According to it, “This will allow for more manufacturers to assist in increasing the supply and production of lifesaving medical instruments and meeting the global demand.”

According to sources, opponents claimed Monday that there was no way to know if a waiver would remove obstacles to vaccine equity like raw material shortages and supply chain problems.