WT/GC/W/826   
26 July 2021 
(21-5819) Page: 1/2 
General Council  Original: Spanish  
 
  
COMMUNICATION BY  COLOMBIA, COSTA RICA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC , ECUADOR, 
PANAM A AND PARAGUAY ON TRADE RESTRICTIONS THAT HAMPER EQUITABLE  
ACCESS  TO COVID -19 VACCINES  
The following communication , dated  23 July 2021, is circulated at the request of the delegations of  
Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Panam a and Paraguay in the context of 
discussions at the World Trade Organization  aimed at facilitating the WTO's response to  COVID -19. 
 
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At the meeting of the General Council held on  5 and 6 May 2021, delegations made a Joint Statement 
containing the following actions to be taken into account during these debates.   
 
"Our delegations consider that this Organization can and should play a proactive r ole in the recovery 
of international trade during this crisis and in the post -pandemic era.  This should be done by, first 
of all, looking to remove as soon as possible, if not immediately, any trade barrier that prevents 
access to vaccines against COVID -19. In this regard, we consider it essential that discussions on 
trade and health at the WTO should address:  
 
1. The immediate or prompt removal of all export restrictions and obstacles related to the 
supply chain of COVID -19 vaccines and their components.  
 
2. A total commitment to prohibit any future export restrictions on COVID -19 vaccines and 
their components.  
 
3. The need for Members to urgently lift the export restrictions that prevent them from 
promptly disposing of vaccines that are beginning to accumu late and far exceed the 
number required to vaccinate their populations, or worse still, that they already know 
will not be used because of their populations' preferences.  
 
4. The role of trade facilitation measures in timely access to vaccines and their 
components, including customs and logistics procedures, as well as transparency with 
regard to, due notification of and information on those procedures.  
 
5. How to facilitate the movement of health personnel.  There is not just a scarcity of goods.  
There are critical situations around the world because of the lack of skilled staff to 
participate in this huge health campaign.  This is something we can review at the WTO, 
to support hot spots, as not all crises in territories take place at the same time.  
 
6. Possible harmonization of standards and transparency in procedures for approving and 
sanctioning vaccines, diagnostics and tests, in the framework of the Committee on 
Technical Barriers to Trade, in order to avoid the emergence of multiple incompatible 
standard s that undermine vaccination and economic recovery efforts, as well as the 
quality of vaccines.  
 
7. A commitment to transparency.  All measures affecting exports of vaccines and their 
components and other associated goods must be duly notified and there sho uld be 
appropriate areas in which to discuss them.  
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  8. An inclusive dialogue with multiple actors in order to have a comprehensive view of the 
problem.  This will enable Members to move forward in constructive discussions with the 
pharmaceutical industry in  order to promote more effective licensing schemes, avoid an 
uptick in prices and ensure equitable access to vaccines.  
 
9. The strengthening of multilateral cooperation and the promotion and effective use of 
innovative mechanisms such as C -TAP, the Access to COVID -19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator 
and COVAX.   
 
Given that there are innumerable trade aspects, these ideas complement and reinforce other 
discussions on health and trade in the Organization, such as the Trade and Health Initiative proposed 
by the Ottawa Group and other countries, or on the waiver proposed by India, South Africa and 
other sponsors.  They also complement and build on the Director -General's efforts and the series of 
multi-stakeholder dialogues launched in April 2021, which are an impor tant step towards seeking a 
better understanding of the challenges faced by different sectors in the search for effective responses 
and ensuring an increase in the production and equitable distribution of vaccines.  But the discussion 
is even broader.  It is important that the countries importing vaccines and components participate in 
these discussions in a manner that is representative of and consistent with the global dimension of 
the problem and the differentiated impact it has had in the different regions . 
 
There is much more that can be done by the WTO.  Health and trade are multidimensional issues 
that concern us all.  Global crises, such as the COVID -19 pandemic, require us to abandon 
mercantilist interests and favour collective action.  No one will be saf e until we are all safe ". 
 
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