WTO chief says hopes Covid patent issue settled by December
December was "an outer limit," for such a deal, she said at a briefing with journalists during a visit to Italy, which this year chairs the Group of 20 rich nations
The World Trade Organization (WTO) headquarters are pictured in Geneva, Switzerland, July 26, 2018/ Reuters
The head of the World Trade Organisation said on Monday she hoped that by December the body's members will have reached a "pragmatic" solution over whether to waive Covid-19 vaccine patents.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said she saw "movement on both sides" - referring to proponents of a waiver and those who have objections - and was hopeful of a framework agreement on the waiver issue, technological transfers and better access to vaccines for developing countries.
December was "an outer limit," for such a deal, she said at a briefing with journalists during a visit to Italy, which this year chairs the Group of 20 rich nations.
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