Prognosis
APEC Ministers Agree to Facilitate Vaccine Distribution, Flow
- Ministers to consider easing medical supply trade barriers
- To discuss waiving vaccine IP protections by end of year
This article is for subscribers only.
Ministers responsible for trade in the Asia-Pacific region said they would work to expedite the distribution and flow of vaccines and other essential medical supplies between economies to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
Officials from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation which includes the U.S., China and Japan said they would “consider removing unnecessary barriers to trade in services, particularly those services that expedite and facilitate the flow of essential goods,” according to a statement late Saturday. The trade ministers stopped short of making a broad commitment to remove tariffs.