China, one of the biggest exporters of COVID-19 vaccines, told WTO members this week that it has concerns on an exports-based eligibility criterion that seeks to exclude developing countries that export more than 10% of the world’s vaccines – a condition that has been proposed as a part of the “Quad waiver text”, now being negotiated at the WTO. China said that “using the criterion of export share to define eligible members will send a wrong signal to the outside world and also have systemic implications to the future negotiations”.

China also offered that if its concerns on such a criteria are addressed, it will not avail the flexibility in a potential waiver proposal. This was reportedly welcomed by the DG Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and some members.

These discussions were a part of the General Council (GC) meeting earlier this week where the TRIPS Waiver was on the agenda among other matters. The Quad text is based on the discussions brokered by the DG, between 4 keys members – the US, the EU, India and South Africa.

Photo by Andre Moura from Pexels

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