Iqwinder Gaheer at the Foreign Affairs and International Development Committee

On March 21st, 2022. See this statement in context.

March 21st, 2022 / 11:55 a.m.

Liberal

Iqwinder Gaheer Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON

Thank you, Mr. Tabah. That was very informative.

I'd like to jump to the TRIPS waiver proposal, which we've spoken about a bit. There seems to be significant support amongst WTO members for the TRIPS waiver proposal led by India and South Africa.

Several members, though, including the EU, Norway and the U.K., have opposed it. The U.K., on December 16, 2021, issued a statement to the WTO TRIPS council and voiced its concerns that the proposed TRIPS waiver “would not increase the number of vaccines reaching people's arms” and that it carried “risks”.

Could you speak to why WTO members like the EU, Norway and the U.K. are opposed to the TRIPS waiver proposal led by South Africa and India?

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