India, US discuss measures to enhance COVID Vaccine production

New Delhi, May 15: A day after External Minister Dr. S Jaishankar met the US Global task force, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal had a virtual meeting with United States Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Chi Tai. They discussed measures to enhance COVID-19 vaccine production.

The meeting was mainly focused on increasing vaccine availability inclusively and equitably to combat the global pandemic caused by Covid-19. The proposal of India on waiver of certain.

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During the meeting, Tai spoke about her backing for the waiver of intellectual property protection for vaccines and text-based negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO), which are a part of President Joe Administration’s efforts to expand manufacturing and distribution of vaccines doses across the globe, the office of the US Trade Representative said in a statement.

She also expressed her sympathy towards the worsening situation in India due to the second wave of the pandemic and reasserted United States’ commitment to help the latter during the crisis.

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Moreover, Minister thanked the USTR for the US announcing its support for India’s proposal. During the meeting, Goyal mentioned that the supply chains for the vaccine manufacturers must be kept open and unbridled as the entire world is in dire need of vaccines. Both sides agreed to work towards the common resolve of increasing vaccine availability and saving lives.

Besides, both sides agreed also to work towards the common resolve of increasing vaccine availability and saving lives.