By David Lawder

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – More than 130 groups representing civil society mainly from developing nations are asking the World Trade Organization not to hold a ministerial meeting next week. Instead they should focus on approving an Intellectual Property Waiver for COVID-19 vaccinations.

These groups were organized in an informal coalition known as “Our World is Not For Sale” and sent a Wednesday letter to WTO members stating that the WTO’s intellectual property rules caused “vaccine apartheid.” Otherwise, the meeting will “lack any pretence or legitimacy” especially as some ministers are not able to travel from Geneva.

Deborah James (the coordinator for the group) acknowledged that it was unlikely that there would be a postponement, but noted that some developing nations are insisting that WTO priorities such as fisheries negotiations and agriculture negotiations take priority over a waiver.

The institutions Friends of the Earth International and the Global Alliance for Tax Justice called for a delay. This was in addition to a statement made earlier this week by 15 other well-known activists calling for a Geneva vaccine waiver agreement.

Amnesty International and Doctors without Borders, Human Rights Watch and Public Citizen, among others, urged President Joe Biden personally to push for countries to waive vaccines under WTO’s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects International Property Rights (TRIPS).

The letter stated that the institution, whose rules are enforced vaccine apartheid, is trying to hold a meeting in conditions of vaccine apartheid without first resolving the apartheid through the TRIPS waiver.

“To proceed under these circumstances will further erode the WTO’s legitimacy, and undermine the credibility of the new Director-General, at a time when the organization’s credibility is already at an all time low.”

A ministerial meeting was not required to approve waivers, and such changes could be made in Geneva by the WTO General Council.

South Africa and India made clear that they did not want a waiver at the WTO meeting. This was stated by James, coordinator of international programs for the Center for Economic Policy Research, Washington.

“Developing countries have been working hard to obtain a waiver, which will end the pandemic and save people’s lives.”

A request for comment was not received by officials at South African or Indian embassies. The spokesperson of the WTO could not be reached immediately.

Since December 2019, when the first COVID-19 cases were discovered in China, more than 5.4 Million people have been affected by COVID-19.

Biden in May reversed their previous U.S. policy to approve a waiver. It caught some allies out by surprise but has not seen much progress. Britain, the European Union and Switzerland continue to oppose such waivers, saying that it would undermine years of research and investment.