WT/MIN(22)/34  
 
22 June 2022  
(22-4863) Page: 1/14 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12 -15 June 202 2   
 
 
WTO SECRETARIAT'S WORK IN THE CONTEXT OF THE COVID -19 PANDEMIC  
NOTE BY THE SECRETARIAT  
 
Table of Contents  
1   OVERVIEW  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  2 
2   COVID -19 PANDEMIC -RELATED ANALYTICAL, MONITORING AND 
INFORMATION SHARING ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN BY THE WTO SECRETARIAT  ............  5 
2.1   Information notes, databases, and staff working papers  ................................ ...................  5 
2.2   Information -sharing sessions and workshops  ................................ ................................ .. 5 
2.3   Monitoring COVID -19 trade, trade -related measures, and support measures  .......................  5 
3   COVID -19 PANDEMIC -RELATED WORK UNDERTAKEN OR IN -PROGRESS IN 
SELECT WTO COUNCILS AND COMMITTEES  ................................ ................................ ...... 5 
3.1   Committees Related to Trade in Goods  ................................ ................................ ...........  5 
3.1.1    Committee on Market Access  ................................ ................................ .....................  5 
3.1.2    Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  ................................ ................................ .... 6 
3.1.3    Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  ................................ .....................  6 
3.1.4    Committee on Trade Facilitation  ................................ ................................ .................  7 
3.2   Committee on Trade and Environment  ................................ ................................ ...........  7 
3.3   Council for Trade in Services  ................................ ................................ .........................  8 
3.4   Council for Trade -Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights  ................................ ....... 8 
ANNEX 1  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  10 
WTO Secretariat COVID -19 Information Notes, Databases and Staff Working Papers and 
Joint Publications with other International Organizations  ................................ ........................  10 
ANNEX 2  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  14 
WTO Se cretariat Information Sharing Sessions and Workshops  ................................ ...............  14 
 
 
  This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility and is without 
prejudice to the positions of Members and to their rights and obligations under the WTO.  WT/MIN(22)/34  
 
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  1  OVERVIEW  
As illustrated in the Ministerial Declarati on on the WTO Response to the 
COVID -19 Pandemic and Preparedness for Future Pandemics (WT/L/1142 ), 
trade plays a key role in supporting an effective response to the COVID -19 
pandemic and is directly relevant to future pandemic and other health crises 
preparedness and response (see Figure 1 ). Trade is, above all, a vital conduit 
for the tangible and intangible inputs and the medical technologies that 
enable a sustainable response: no country can hope or expect to be entirely 
self-sufficient for both inputs and finished p roducts, and this fact alone 
makes trade a necessity in addressing pandemic challenges. Preserving 
smooth and well -functioning global supply chains, streamlining regulatory 
approval procedures and having a balanced intellectual property system in 
place tha t provides incentives for innovative activities while disseminating 
technology, know -how and data in order to ensure equitable  access to the 
results of such activities are but a few trade -related policy elements that are 
needed to effectively tackle a pand emic. Similarly, competitive and 
transparent government procurement systems, together with appropriate 
emergency procurement flexibilities to expedite procurement processes, can 
ensure medical goods and services  are more accessible and affordable .  
1.1.  A wide range of WTO agreements are directly relevant for the 
development and distribution of health technologies and have already played 
an important role in addressing COVID -19 related challenges (see Figure  2); 
they include:  
a. the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT)  aims at fostering international  trade 
in goods. It establishes the legal framework for WTO Members to substantially reduce or 
eliminate tariffs and other barriers to trade and to eliminate discriminatory treatment in 
international commerce;  
b. the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)  establishes a multilateral framework of 
rules for trade  in services, with a view to expanding such trade under conditions of 
transparency and progressive liberalization ; 
c. the Agreement on Trade -Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement)  
sets minimum standards for the protection and enforcement of intellectual property (IP) 
rights. It calls for a balanced approach that incentivizes innovative activities while also 
promoting the dissemination of and access to new technologies;  
d. the Agreement on Technical Barrier s to Trade (TBT Agreement)  sets out disciplines for 
standards and regulatory measures used, for example, to protect human, animal and plant 
life and health and the environment, and to ensure product safety. It  contains disciplines on 
regulatory topics, inc luding with respect to the use of "relevant" international standards, 
guides or recommendations, regulatory reliance (e.g. by encouraging recognition of 
conformity assessment results), regulatory transparency, and technical assistance and 
capacity -building  for domestic  regulatory authorities;  
e. the Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement)  applies to sanitary 
and phytosanitary measures intended to ensure food safety, animal and plant health, and to 
protect human health from diseases transmitted by animals. It requires Members to base such 
measures on scientific principles, and strongly encourages the use of international standards, 
guidelines and recommendation s, specifically those developed by the FAO/WHO Codex 
Alimentarius Commission for food safety, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) for 
animal health and zoonoses, and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) for plant 
health. Like the  TBT Agreement, the SPS Agreement contains disciplines on regulatory topics;  
f. the Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA)  sets forth a series of measures for expeditiously 
moving goods  across borders, inspired by the best practices from around the world. It provides 
for a set of multilateral rules to further expedite the movement, release and clearance of 
goods, including goods in transit, and calls for effective cooperation among Membe rs to 
facilitate trade procedures and to address customs compliance issues; and  Figure 1: This 
infographic highlights 
the myriad of trade -
related considerations 
that interact in the 
development and 
delivery of a vaccine. 
Similar factors  are 
applicable  in the 
context of diagnostics 
and therapeutics.  
 
 
 
WT/MIN(22)/34  
 
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  g. the WTO's plurilateral Government Procurement Agreement 2012  provides a framework for 
the conduct  of international trade in government procurement markets and covers a wide 
range of  medical goods, including vaccines, medicines and PPE , in line with principles of good 
governance and transparency . In emergency situations, governments can introduce exped ited 
procedures to ensure swift access to needed health technologies.  
 
Figure 2: Trade policies and agreements of direct relevance for the development and distribution of health 
technologies  
1.2.  Since the beginning of the COVID -19 pandemic, WTO Members and the WTO Secretariat have 
actively sought to understand and enhance how trade can help address the crisis. Trade -related 
measures and relevant rules under multilateral, regional and domestic fram eworks have been 
transparently shared, collated and analysed, and intens ively debated  at the WTO.  
1.3.  As Section 2  of this note illustrates , along with Annexes Annex 1  and Annex 2 , the WTO 
Secretariat has undertaken extensive analytical work, in particular through the launch of a series of 
information notes, databases and staff working papers that cover all relevant trade areas, as well 
as through the organization of information -sharing sessions and workshops. WTO monitoring of 
trade and Members' trade -related measures taken in response to the pandemic have provided 
needed transparency. Together, these resources constitute an instrumental and empirically solid 
basis for informed dis cussions and decision -making at the domestic, regional, and multilateral levels.  
WT/MIN(22)/34  
 
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  1.4.  The work of the Secretariat has also included support for the  pandemic -related work 
undertaken by WTO Members in several WTO bodies , as outlined in  Section 3  . Various Councils 
and Committees serve as a venue to address trade -related issues that have emerged during the 
pandemic and to exchange experiences with a view to paving the way towards better preparedness 
for future pandemics.  
1.5.  The WHO and WTO Secretariats enjoy a longstanding and well -established collaboration on 
matters at the crossroads between public health, intellectual property , and trade. This is 
complemen ted by trilateral initiatives taken by the Directors -General of the WHO, WIPO and the 
WTO to assist our respective memberships in addressing the current pandemic and be coming  better 
prepared for future health crises. In June 2021, they agreed to collaborate on the organization of 
technical workshops  to strengthen the capacity of policymaker s and experts in governments to 
address the pandemic. As requested by the Directors -General, a joint platform  was launched to 
provide a one -stop shop for Members seeking trilateral technical assistan ce relating to their needs 
for COVID -19 medical technologies. It makes available the full range of expertise on access, IP and 
trade matters provided by trilateral and other partners, in a coordinated and systematic manner. 
Those initiatives will be comple mented by periodic updates of the information note on an integrated 
health, trade, IP response to COVID -19. This close, practical  cooperation supports Members' 
achievement o f public health objectives by leveraging the expertise of each organization  in an 
integrated manner . It also responds to the urgent need for synergies and complementarity and 
enables cross-agency cooperation in domestic settings.  
1.6.  The collaboration of the W TO Secretariat with the World Bank produced a comprehensive 
publication " Trade Therapy: Deepening Cooperation to Enhance Pandemic Defences ", which analyses 
the role that t rade p lays in ensuring access to medical goods and services during global health crises , 
such as the COVID -19 pandemic , as well as the need for greater international cooperation to improve 
global health security.  
1.7.  Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the WTO has hosted and participat ed in high -level 
dialogues with heads of international agencies and senior policymakers, as well as vaccine 
manufacturers and other business stakeholders committed to providing global, coordinated action 
to deal with the extraordinary c hallenges the pandemic has posed to people 's health and livelihoods.  
In particular, the WTO Director -General has engaged in collaborative efforts with the heads of other 
intergovernmental organizations to establish high -level dialogues and other discussion fora with 
relevant stakeholders to promote practical and evidence -based cross -sectoral solutions to pandemic 
challenges. Shortly after assuming office in March 2021, the Director -General organized a series  of 
high-level virtual events for govern ment ministers, C hief Executive Officers  and senior 
representatives of the main vaccine manufacturers, civil society advocates, and leaders of other 
international organizations to discuss pragmatic solutions to COVID -19 vaccine shortages and 
inequities. Fo r example, on 14 April 2021, leaders discussed " COVID -19 and Vaccine Equity: What 
Can the WTO Contribute? ", followed on 29 June 2021 by a " COVID -19 Vaccine Supply Chain and 
Regulatory Transparency Technical Symposium ", and on 21  July 2021 by a joint WHO -WTO 
high-level dialogue on " Expanding COVID -19 vaccine manufacture to promote equitable access ". 
1.8.  Since co -founding the Multilateral Leaders Task Force on COVID -19 on 30 Jun e 2021, the WTO 
Director -General has collaborated with the heads of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World 
Bank Group, and WHO to leverage multilateral finance and trade solutions, particularly for low - and 
middle -income countries, to accelerate acce ss to COVID -19 vaccines, including through high -level 
consultations with the main vaccine manufacturers and other stakeholders.  
1.9.  This note offers a non -exhaustive overview of pandemic -related work at the WTO. It provides 
information about the broad range of  activities in which WTO Members and the WTO Secretariat are 
engaged to address the COVID -19 pandemic and to be better prepared for future health crises. 
Complementary information is available on a dedicated COVID -19 and world trade  web page.  WT/MIN(22)/34  
 
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  2  COVID -19 PANDEMIC -RELATED ANALYTICAL, MONITORING AND INFORMATION 
SHARING ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN BY THE WTO SECRETARIAT  
2.1  Information notes, databases, and staff working papers  
2.1.  As early as April 2 020, the WTO began issuing information notes and assembling data on 
trade -related aspects of COVID -19. Annex  1 lists over 30 information resources, along with tools 
like the WTO-IMF Vaccine Trade Tracker  and repositories of trade -related measures  in the areas of 
goods, services, and intellectual property, as well as support measures. They provide 
decision - makers with timely and accu rate information and empirical evidence needed to identify 
and effectively respond to supply chain challenges and develop trade -facilitating policies and 
practices.  
2.2  Information -sharing sessions and workshops  
2.2.  The WTO has hosted a range of information -sharing sessions and workshops , often in 
conjunction with its trilateral partners, the WHO and WIPO, other international organizations and a 
wide range of stakeholders.  The objective has been to share experiences and best practices in order 
to further disseminate information critical to policymakers seeking to respond to unprecedented 
trade -related pandemic challenges. Some events provided updates on the Secretariat's wo rk and 
offered the opportunity to discuss the information resources referenced in Section 2.1  . Several 
focused on medical technologies, including  vaccines; others provided technical guidance to support 
the use of information resources. Annex 2  compiles relevant information -sharing sessions and 
workshops.  
2.3  Monitori ng COVID -19 trade, trade -related measures, and support measures  
2.3.  In the context of the WTO Trade Monitoring Exercise , the Secretariat produces two reports 
twice a year to enha nce transparency and provide an up -to-date picture of trends in the 
implementation of trade -related measures. Since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, the reports 
have included information on COVID -19 trade -related measures on goods, services, and inte llectual 
property, as well as economic support. Online databases of these measures , some reported by 
Members, some notified to their respective WTO body, and others identified by the Secretariat from 
official sources, were created as part of this exercise, and are regularly updated ( Annex 1 ). The 
measures in these databases are regul arly discussed, for example, by the Committee on Market 
Access  (section 3.1.1  ) and the TRIPS Council  (section 3.4  ). COVID -19-related measures that have 
been notified or raised as a specific trade concern are also discussed as part of the regular work of 
these and other WTO bodies, including the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  (section 
3.1.2   ), the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  (section 3.1.3  ), and the 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  (section 3.1.4  ). 
3  COVID -19 PANDEMIC -RELATED WORK UNDERTAKEN OR IN -PROGRESS IN SELECT WTO 
COUNCILS AND COMMITTEES   
3.1  Committees Related to Trade in Goods  
3.1.1   Committee on Market Access  
3.1.  As part of its regular work, the Committee has had a standing  item on its agenda for monitoring 
export restrictions and trade -easing measures  relating to the COVID -19 pandemic, based on 
notifications to the Committee as well as information from the Trade Monitoring Exercise  
(cf. section  2.3  ) compiled in  the database  "COVID -19: Measure s affecting trade in goods ". At the 
request of the Committee, the Secretariat has issued two regularly updated reports. One is a list of 
notifications and other Member communications relating to the COVID -19 pandemic ( G/MA/W/157 , 
revisions and corrigendum).  The other summarizes the factual information  on export prohibitions  
and trade -easing measures contained in these notifications and communications, as well as other 
measures from the " COVID -19: Measures affecting trade in goods " database ( G/MA/W/168 , 
revisions and corrigendum ). WT/MIN(22)/34  
 
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  3.2.  The Committee has al so held a series of experience -sharing sessions on trade in 
COVID -19-related goods where Members have exchanged views and experiences on different areas 
relevant to the work of the Committee:  
a. 1st session: How Members defined their lists of "essential goods" to combat COVID -19 and the 
challenges they face d with tariff classification; lessons learned from the pandemic and how 
the international trade community can be better prepared for future crises . (4 March 2022, 
News  item) 
b. 2nd session: How Members monitored and measured trade in essential goods to combat the 
pandemic and how data collection could be improved at a time of crisis; how to promote a 
greater role for global international cooperation in order to better understand and  track trade 
flows underpinning complex medical value chains. (26 April 2022, News item ) 
3.3.  The next two experience -sharing sessions are scheduled to take place on 27 June and 
16 September 2022 and will cover the following topics:  
a. 3rd session: Members' practices on measures aimed at easing trade under the purview of the 
Committee including, for example, in relation to tariff suspensions, reductions, or eliminations.  
b. 4th session: How  to improve transparency in export restrictions, as well as experience sharing 
with respect to the choices underpinning the use of such restrictions.  
3.1.2   Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  
3.4.  Members notified numerous standards and regulations adopted in re sponse to the COVID -19 
pandemic under the TBT Agreement. As of 27 April 2022, 34 Members submitted 213 COVID -19 
related notifications to the TBT Committee, comprising 45% of all such WTO notifications 
(cf. sectio n 2.3  ). The notified measures mostly pertain to extraordinary and temporary 
streamlining of certification and related procedures, and the introduction of new regulatory 
requirements for med ical goods (such as pharmaceutical products, personal protective equipment, 
medical equipment, and other medical supplies) .1 
3.5.  Members2 and observers3 also used the TBT Committee as a platform to exchange experiences 
on different COVID -19-related matters,  including trade -facilitating measures and regulatory 
flexibilities introduced in the context of the pandemic, technical assistance and capacity -building 
projects, development of and access to standards, and the role of accreditation.  
3.6.  While discussing spe cific trade concerns in the TBT Committee, Members also discussed the 
significant impacts of the pandemic  on their economies, in particular:  (i) difficulties complying with 
regulatory requirements ; (ii) difficulties performing conformity assessment procedures; and (iii) the 
overall impact on their work in the areas of standards and regulations.4 
3.7.  In addition, as part of the TBT Committee workplan for 2022 -2024, Members agreed to 
examine and compile best practices for future pandemic preparedness, including streamlining 
conformity assessment procedures during pandemics, and enhancing international regulatory 
cooperation, to facilitate trade in select essential medical goods like vaccines.5 This work aims to 
build on Members' experiences during the COVID -19 pandemic.  
3.1.3   Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  
3.8.  In the SPS Committee, Members shared information on their SPS regulations and other 
activities in response to the pandemic, discussed trade conc erns arising from COVID -related import 
 
1 WTO database,  WTO members' notifications on COVID -19. COVID -19-related TBT notifications can 
also be tracked through ePing  search and alert functions. See also WTO Secretariat information note , 
"Standards, regulations and COVID -19 — what actions taken by WTO members?" . 
2 See G/TBT/46 ; G/TBT/GEN/306 ; G/TBT/W/736 . 
3 See G/TBT/M/84 ; G/TBT/GEN/314 .  
4 See G/TBT/M/80 ; G/TBT/M/81 ; G/TBT/M/82 ; G/TBT/M/83 ; G/TBT/M/84 ; G/TBT/M/85 ; G/TBT/M/86 . 
5 G/TBT/46 , para. 8.4.  WT/MIN(22)/34  
 
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  requirements, and received updates from the relevant standard setting bodies and other 
international organizations.  
3.9.  The SPS Committee has had a standing agenda item on COVID -19 and SPS issues since 
June 2020, where th e Secretariat, the International Standard -Setting Bodies, other observer 
organizations and Members have regularly report ed on activities related to the pandemic. 
Summar ies of these discussions ha ve been included in the corresponding summary  report  of each 
meeting.  
3.10.   As of 21 April 2022, 31 Members have submitted a total of 123 SPS COVID -19-related 
documents, including notifications of new or changed SPS regulations and other communications,  
representing 27% of all COVID -19-related documents r eceived by the WTO (section 2.3  ).6 Initially, 
the notified measures mainly related to restrictions on animal imports and/or transit from affected  
areas and increased certification requirements. Many of these restrictions were subsequently lifted. 
While a few new restrictions were imposed a t a later stage, most notifications and communications 
submitted since the beginning of April 2020 relate to measures taken to facilitate trade. For example, 
some Members  have allowed temporary flexibility for control authorities to use electronic versions  
or copies of veterinary and/or phytosanitary certificates, since the COVID -19 situation has made the 
transmission of original paper certificates problematic.  
3.11.   Members have discussed four specific trade concerns  in the SPS Committee regarding SPS 
measures adopted in relation to COVID -19. These relate to trade restrictions or import procedures 
put in place by importing Members wh ich other  Members perceive as restricting  trade  more than 
necessary for health -protection purposes and/or creat ing unjustified barriers to international trade.  
3.1.4   Committee on Trade Facilitation  
3.12.   The Committee on Trade Facilitation (TFC) has been holding a series of experience -sharing 
and thematic discussions  on the impact of the COVID -19 pandemic on the international trade of 
goods and on possible measures to facilitate the movement of good s during the pandemic. These 
sessions have addressed a variety of trade -facilitating initiatives and interim mechanisms taken by 
Members, observers, international organizations and the private sector to promote the smooth flow 
of essential medical supplies  and other commodities during the COVID -19 pandemic. Such measures 
include "green" priority clearance channels, temporary suspension of import licensing requirements, 
waiving import and consumer taxes, simplified import/export declaration forms, and the us e of 
digital signatures and electronic documents to streamline the fulfilment of paperwork requirements. 
Some of these measures have been notified to the TFC (section 2.3  ). 
3.13.   Details on these notifications and other measures discussed during information - and 
experience -sharing sessions, as well as associated presentations made to the TFC, can be found in 
the TFA database  and in a regularly updated compendium compiled by the Secretariat at the request 
of the Committee ( G/TFA/W/40 , and revisions). The TFA Facility website also contains a repository  
of measures and initiatives by international and partner organizations.  
3.2  Committee on Trade and Environment  
3.14.   According to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), stopping illegal and 
unregulated wildlife trade will be key to reducing the risk of future zoonotic epidemics.7 This is also 
reflected in the One Health approach promoted by the WHO and other institutions which aims to 
tackle the challen ges of human, animal and ecosystem health in a more integrated manner.8 Other 
environmental degradation concerns such as deforestation, changes in forest habitat and biodiversity 
 
6 WTO database, WTO members' notifications on COVID -19. COVID -19-related SPS notifications can 
also be tracked through ePing  search and alert functions.  See also WTO Secretariat information note , 
"Standards, regulations and COVID -19 — what actions taken by WTO members?" . 
7 United Nations Environment Programme, Trade and Environment: Implications of COVID -19, available 
at: https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/32286/TradeEnv.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y . 
8 See https://www.who.int/news/item/18 -03-2022-un-environment -programme -joins-alliance -to-
implement -one-health -approach . WT/MIN(22)/34  
 
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  loss, that have been linked to an increased likelihood of future pandemic ou tbreaks9, are also 
increasingly being discussed at the WTO in various committees and bodies.  
3.15.   In particular, the Committee on Trade and Environment  aims to ensure that trade and 
environmental policies are mutually supportive. It provides a platform to shar e knowledge and 
experience and to brief on new policy instruments. It also serves as a forum where the secretariats 
of several multilateral environmental agreements  regularly brief WTO Members on their work. Such 
discussions ensure that trade measures cont ribute to enhancing future prevention and mitigation 
responses through open, fact -based, and forward -looking dialogue and promote safe trade in 
animals and animal products.  
3.16.   In December 2021, a Ministerial Statement was adopted on Trade and Environmental 
Sustainability.10 Currently supported by 71 WTO Members, it refers to the need to  ensure legal and 
sustainable trade in wildlife and the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Moving 
forward, these and other discussions at the WTO will continue to  play a role in ensuring trade and 
trade policy can support sustainable outcomes and help address the drivers of new zoonotic diseases.  
3.3  Council for Trade in Services  
3.17.   The Council for Trade in Services discussed the implications of the COVID -19 pandemic on 
service trade in 2020. Members exchanged views and shared experiences on the services 
trade -related aspects of the pandemic, and the Secretariat presented the Information Note it had 
produced on the issue.  
3.18.   In the Special Session of the Council for Trade in Services, Members considered a 
communication submitted by a group of developing countries  in February 2021. The communication  
discussed the impact of the pandemic on serv ices sectors of vulnerable Members, as well as related 
challenges and opportunities for trade in services.  
3.4  Council for Trade -Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights  
3.19.   Since June 2020, pandemic -related matters have featured on the TRIPS Council's age nda. 
The Council has considered notified pandemic -related measures under its regular standing item on 
notifications. Other measures have been discussed during formal meetings under an "IP measures 
in the context of COVID -19" item, with reference to a non -exhaustive list  compiled by the Secretariat 
as part of the Trade Monitoring Exerc ise (cf. section 2.3  2.1  ). 
3.20.   The Cou ncil has considered a proposal entitled "Waiver from certain Provisions of the TRIPS 
Agreement for the Prevention, Containment and Treatment of COVID -19", initially tabled by India 
and South Africa on 2 October 2020 and subsequently co -sponsored by 63 addi tional Members.11 As 
revised ( IP/C/W/669/Rev.1 ), it proposed waiving Members' obligations to implement, apply, or 
enforce TRIPS provisions on copyright, industrial designs, patents, and undisclosed information12 for 
a period of at least 3 years, and until terminated by the General Council, for health products and 
technologies for the prevention, treatment or containment of COVID -19. The Council also considered 
a proposal tabled by the European Union, entitled "Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public 
Health in the circumstances  of a Pandemic" ( IP/C/W/681 ), which envisaged a General Council 
declaration that would reaffirm the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health 
(WT/MIN(01)/DEC/2 ) and clarify certain TRIPS flexibilities relating to compulsory licenses in the 
circumstances of a pandemic.  
3.21.   On 3  May 2022, the TRIPS Counc il Chair circulated a communication from the 
Director -General ( IP/C/W/688 ) sharing with the wider membership the outcome of discussions 
among an informal group of Ministers that she ha d facilitated since December 2021 to give impetus 
to the Council's discussions of the TRIPS waiver proposal and the EU proposal. The draft outcome 
 
9 See Deforestation is leading to more infectious diseases in humans (nationalgeographic.com) . 
10 See WT/MIN(21)/6/Rev.2 . 
11 The African Group, Argentina, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Egypt, Eswatini, Fiji, Indonesia, 
Jordan, Kenya, the LDC Group, Malaysia , the Maldives, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Pakistan, Vanuatu, 
the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and Zimbabwe.  
12 Sections 1, 4, 5 and 7 of Part II of the TRIPS Agreement  and the obligation to enforce these sections 
under Part III.  WT/MIN(22)/34  
 
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  text set forth clarifications and waivers of certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement  for eligible 
Members to authorize the use of patented subject matter required for the production and supply of 
COVID -19 vaccines to the extent necessary to address the pandemic. It served as a basis for  the 
subsequent text -based negotiations that led to a decision adopted at the 12th Ministerial Conference 
(WT/L/1141 ). 
_______________  
 
 
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  ANNEX 1  
WTO Secretariat COVID -19 Information Notes, Databases and Staff Working Papers  and 
Joint Publications with other International Organizations  
Date  Type  Title Description  
Ongoing  Database  WTO-IMF Vaccine Trade 
Tracker  Data on the trade and supply of vaccines by product, 
economy, and arrangement type.  
Ongoing  Database  Database of the Multilateral 
Leaders Task Force on 
COVID -19 Vaccines, 
Therapeutics, and 
Diagnostics   Global data and country -by-country dashboards 
tracking and monitoring gaps to suppo rt access to 
vaccines, treatments, and tests in developing 
countries. Developed jointly by the World Bank, WTO, 
WHO and IMF.  
Ongoing  Database  Inventory of COVID -19 
Information Resources  List of resources managed by international 
organizations, non -governmental organizations, 
academics, and the private sector.  
Ongoing  Database  WTO COVID -19 Trade 
Facilitation Repository  Initiatives, guidelines, case studies, and other 
information developed by partners to help maintain 
the flow of safe cross -border trade during the 
pandemic.  
Ongoing  Database  COVID -19: Measures 
regarding trade related 
intellectual property rights   Non-exhaustive compilation of measures related to 
intellectual property rights (IPRs) taken  by Members 
in the context of the COVID -19 crisis. Certain 
information restricted to WTO Members and 
observers.  
Ongoing  Database  COVID -19: Measures 
affecting trade in goods.   Non-exhaustive compilation of trade and trade -
related measures affecting trade in goods taken by 
Members in the context of the COVID -19 crisis. 
Certain information restricted to WTO Members and 
observers.  
Ongoing  Database  COVID -19: Agricultural 
Measures   Non-exhaustive compilation of measures taken by 
Members in the context of the COVID -19 crisis 
targeting agricultural products, extracted from the 
databa se "COVID -19: Measures affecting trade in 
goods ". Certain information restricted to WTO 
Members and observers.  
Ongoing  Database  COVID -19: Measures 
affecting trade in services   Non-exhaustive compilation of measures related to 
services taken by Members in the context of the 
COVID -19 cri sis. Certain information restricted to 
WTO Members and observers.  
Ongoing  Database  COVID -19: Support 
measures  Non-exhaustive compilation of support measure s 
taken by Members in the context of the COVID -19 
crisis.  
Ongoing  Database  WTO Members' Notifications 
on COVID -19 List of notifications submitted by Members to WTO 
bodies relating to COVID -19, searchable by keyword, 
date, Member, and communication type.  
07/06/2022  Information 
Note Updated Joint Indicative List 
of Critica l COVID -19 Vaccine 
Inputs  Updated version on critical inputs for manufacturing, 
distributing, and administering COVID -19 vaccines. 
The initial w orking document was developed with 
collaborators to facilitate discussions at the WTO 
COVID -19 Vaccine Supply Chain and Regulatory 
Transparency Symposium of 29 June 2021 . 
03/06/2022  Publication  Trade Therapy: Deepening 
Cooperation to Strengthen 
Pandemic Defenses 
(Conference Edition)  WTO-World Bank  publication "Trade Therapy: 
Deepening Cooperation to Strength en Pandemic 
Defenses"  
 
20/04/2022  Report  Accelerating COVID -19 
Vaccine Deployment: 
Removing obstacles to 
increase coverage levels and 
protect those at high risk   Identifies priority actions and recommendations to 
accelerate vaccine deployment. Commissioned by G20 
Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors and 
prepared by the WHO and World Bank with GAVI, 
IMF, UNICEF, and WTO.  
18/01/2022  Staff 
Working 
paper  Innovation and patenting 
activities of COVID -19 
vaccines in WTO members: 
Analytical review of 
Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) 
COVID -19 Vaccines Patent 
Landscape (VaxPaL) * Analyses  74 patent families covering subject matter 
relevant to ten COVID -19 vaccines, which accounted 
for 99% of global COVID ‑19 vaccine production as of 
31 December 2021.  WT/MIN(22)/34  
 
- 11 - 
 
  Date  Type  Title Description  
14/12/2021  Information 
note Trade in Medical Goods in 
the Context of Tackling 
COVID -19: Developments in 
in the first half of 2021  Provides trade statistics for medical goods for the first 
half of 2021 and makes comparisons with data from 
2019 and 2020. I ncludes special case study on 
selected vaccine administration products (rubber 
gloves, syringes, needles). Third update in series 
(initial note  03/04/2020 , first update  22/12 /2020 , 
second update  30/06/2021 ) 
08/10/2021  Information 
note COVID -19 vaccine 
production and tariffs on 
vaccine inputs  Analyses MFN applied tariffs and 2020 imports of 
inputs for vaccine manufacturing by the 27 top 
vaccine m anufacturing economies to identify possible 
sensitive or "choke" points.  
08/10/2021  
20/07/2021  Information 
note Update: Indicative list of 
trade-related bottlene cks 
and trade -facilitating 
measures on critical 
products to combat COVID -
19 Identifies possible trade -related bottlenecks and 
trade-facilitating measures on critical products to 
combat COVID -19, including inputs used in vaccine 
manufacturing, vaccine distr ibution and approval, 
therapeutics, and pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and 
medical devices. Updated version of initial note of 
20/07/2021 . 
08/10/2021  Infographic  The global race to vaccinate  Depicts "fast track" and "slow track" processes for 
moving a COVID -19 vaccine from the factory to the 
final recipient.  
30/08/2021  
01/07/2020  Information 
note Update: An integrated 
health, trade, and IP 
approach to respond to the 
COVID -19 pandemic  Maps challenges posed by the pandemic in relati on to 
integrated health, trade and IP policy frameworks. 
Standalone extract from second edition of the 
trilateral study, "Promoting Access to Medical 
Technologies and Innovation: Intersections between 
public health, intellectual property and trade" , 
prepared jointly by WHO, WIPO and WTO. Updated 
version of note of 01/07/2020 . 
13/07/2021  Information 
note Joint indicative list of critical 
COVID -19 vaccine inputs for 
consultation  Provides information on critical inputs for 
manufacturing, distri buting, and administering 
COVID -19 vaccines. Working document developed 
with collaborators to facilitate discussions at the WTO 
COVID -19 Vaccine Supply Chain and Re gulatory 
Transparency Symposium of 29 June 2021 .  
01/07/2021  Information 
note Improving trade data for 
products essential to fight 
COVID -19: A possible way 
forward  Discusses shortcomings in available trade data for 
many products needed to combat the COVID -19 
pandemic, including vaccines and their components, 
and proposes actions that could be taken by the 
international community to improve data quality to 
create a more solid basis for COVID -19 trade policy.  
30/06/2021  Information 
note Trade in medical goods in 
the context of tackling 
COVID -19: Developments in 
2020 Provides 2020 trade statistics for medical goods from 
around 100 economies and makes comparisons with 
2019. Includes special case study on diagnostic 
reagents and test kits. Second update in series (initial 
note 03/04/2020 , first update  22/12 /2020 , third 
update  14/12/2021 ). 
14/01/2021  Staff 
Working 
paper  Trade finance, gaps and the 
COVID -19 pandemic: A 
review of events and policy 
responses to date * Considers pandemic -related trade financing 
developments in 2020, responses by governments, 
central banks, export credit agencies, and 
international financial institutions, and identifies 
future challenges.  
11/01/2021  Staff 
Working 
paper  COVID -19 and global value 
chains: a discussion of 
arguments on value chain 
organization and the role of 
the WTO * Analyses  the reasons for changes in global value 
chains as a result of  COVID -19 both from a positive 
angle, analysing expected changes in the behaviour of 
firms, and from a normative angle, assessing the 
different arguments for policy interventions by 
governments.  
22/12/2020  Information 
note Developing and delivering 
COVID -19 vaccines around 
the world : An information 
note about issues with trade 
impact  Provides background information on immunization 
and the development of COVID -19 vaccines; a n 
infographic overview of the development and delivery 
of vaccines; and details on where key decisions with 
trade impact may need to be made along the vaccine 
value chain. Includes a non -exhaustive list of useful 
resources to inform decision -making.  
22/12 /2020  Information 
note Trade in medical goods in 
the context of tackling 
COVID -19 Provides preliminary trade statistics for medical goods 
from 97 economies for the fi rst half of 2020 and 
makes comparisons with 2019 and 2018. Includes 
special case study on face masks. First update in 
series (initial note  03/04/2020 , second update 
30/06/2021 , third update 14/12/2021 ). WT/MIN(22)/34  
 
- 12 - 
 
  Date  Type  Title Description  
04/12/2020  Information 
note Standards, regulations and 
COVID -19 — What actions 
taken by WTO members?  Describes  standards and regulations notified by 
Members under the TBT and SPS agreements in 2020 
in response to the pandemic, most of which affect 
trade in personal protective equipment (PPE), food, 
medical equipment, plant products and live animals.  
20/11/2020  Checklist  Developing & delivering 
COVID -19 vaccines around 
the world: A checklist of 
issues with trade impact  Identifies  trade-related issues along the COVID -19 
vaccine value chain to aid the development of trade 
policies that support vacci ne development and 
distribution. Companion to infographic " ". 
20/11/2020  Infographic  Developing & delivering  
COVID -19 vaccines around 
the world  Graphically depicts trade -related considerations along 
the COVID -19 vaccine value chain. Companion to 
"Developing & delivering COVID -19 vaccines around 
the world: A checklist of issues with trade impact ". 
03/11/2020  Information 
note Future resilience to diseases 
of animal origin: The role of 
trade Summarizes current issues, status of legal 
frameworks, and planned future actions to control the 
spread o f zoonoses through trade. Includes a section 
on COVID -19. 
21/10/2020  Staff 
Working 
paper  Patent -related actions taken 
in WTO members in 
response to the COVID -19 
pandemic * Provides an overview of patent landscape of medical 
treatments and technologies related to COVID -19, 
and the patent status of two investigational medical 
treatments; patent -related actions taken in Members 
since the outbreak; patent -related policy options 
provided by TRIPS; and Members' national 
implementation and utilization of these options in 
their response to the pandemic.  
15/10/2020  Information 
note The TRIPS Agreement and 
COVID -19 Discusses 0role of the IP system and contributions it 
can make to addressing COVID -19, including policy 
options and flexibilities as implemented in domestic 
law; summarizes measures taken by Members within 
the IP framework since the start of the crisis.  
24/09/2020  Information 
note Helping MSMEs navigate the 
COVID -19 crisis  Describes impact of the COVID -19 crisis on micro, 
small and medium -sized enterprises (MSMEs), 
measures Members have implemented and should 
consider to support MSMEs, and the role of the WTO 
as a forum for MSME -supportive work.  
18/09/2020  Information 
note How WTO members have 
used trade measures to 
expedite access to COVID -
19 critical medical goods 
and services  Surveys Members' trade measures to expedite access 
to CO VID-19-critical medical goods and services, 
including: eliminating or deferring duties, taxes, and 
charges; streamlining border clearance; enhancing 
regulatory cooperation; facilitating the international 
movement of health workers and telemedicine; new, 
streamlined, or clarified rules for emergency 
government procurement activities; and IP measures 
to foster innovation and development of new 
treatments and vaccines.  
26/08/2020  Information 
note COVID -19 and agriculture: A 
story of resilience  Discusses trends in agricultural markets and trade 
during the first few months of the pandemic, trade 
measures taken by Members to address the impact of 
COVID -19 on the agricultural sector,  food security, 
and the impact of trade policies.  
25/08/2020  Information 
note Cross -border mobility, 
COVID -19 and global trade  Summarizes mobility -related measures implem ented 
by Members, their trade impact and subsequent 
refinement as the pandemic entered a new phase, 
and possible international cooperative paths to 
building trade resilience for the future. Draws and 
builds upon " Trade in services in the context of 
COVID -19". 
12/08/2020  Information 
note Trade costs in the time of 
global pandemic  Applies insights from a WTO trade costs  project and 
available real -time indicators t o outline how travel 
restrictions, border closures, and other COVID -19 
mitigation measures may affect trade costs.  
03/08/2020  Information 
note The economic impact of 
COVID -19 on women in 
vulnerable sectors and 
economies  Discusses why the economic impact of COVID -19 is 
likely to affect women disproportionately (especially 
those in LDCs and developing economies); identifies 
government support measures that aid women; and 
discusses how trade could benefit women during the 
COVID -19 recovery.  
08/06/2020  Information 
note The COVID -19 pandemic 
and trade -related 
developments in LDCs  Describes pre -pandemic trends in LDC trade, publicly 
available information regarding the impact of the 
pandemic on sectors significant to select LDC 
economies, and the possible impact of Members' 
trade-related measures and domestic and 
international support me asures.  WT/MIN(22)/34  
 
- 13 - 
 
  Date  Type  Title Description  
28/05/2020  Information 
note Trade in services in the 
context of COVID -19 Describes the early impact of the COVID -19 pandemic 
on trade in services in different sectors and modes of 
supply.  
04/05/2020  Information 
note E-commerce, trade and the 
COVID -19 pandemic  Assesses  the e-commerce landscape in the early days 
of the  pandemic, including: measures taken by 
Members to facilitate e -commerce in goods; supply 
chain disruptions; increased demand for digital 
education, health, media, and payment services; and 
challenges relating to consumer protection, 
compliance with health  and safety regulations, and 
the digital divide. Summarizes relevant WTO work.  
27/04/2020  Information 
note The treatment of medical 
products in regional trade 
agreements  Analyses exports and imports of medical products 
with RTA partners versus the rest of the world by the 
top 10 global exporters, tariff commitments for 
medical products under 174 notified RTAs, and RTA 
provisions on technical barriers to trade (stan dards, 
regulations, and conformity assessments) applicable 
to pharmaceutical and medical products.  
23/04/2020  Information 
note Export prohibitions and 
restrictions  Summarizes main WTO rules on export prohibitions 
and restrictions, including carve -outs and exceptions, 
and relevant transpar ency provisions; maps out 
export prohibitions and restrictions introduced by 
Members since the beginning of the pandemic and 
their possible economic impact; and discusses 
improving international cooperation in the area of 
export prohibitions and restrictio ns. 
07/04/2020  Information 
note Transparency — Why it 
matters at times of crisis  Discusses importance of transparency and information 
sharing in the context of the CO VID-19 pandemic; 
provides overview of transparency in the multilateral 
trading system, including the Trade Policy Review 
Mechanism and provisions in various WTO 
agreements.  
03/04/2020  Information 
note Trade in Medical Goods in 
the Context of Tackling 
COVID -19 Provides comprehensive overview of global trade in, 
and tariffs imposed on, medical goods. Associated 
data available as an Excel download  and through a 
data visualization app  and WTO Stats . Initial note in 
series (first update  22/12 /2020 , second update  
30/06/2021 , third update 14/12/2021 ). 
 
*Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in these papers are those of the authors. They are not intended to represent the 
positions or opinions of the WTO or its members and are without prejudice to Members' rights and obligations under 
the WTO. Any errors are attributable to the authors . 
  WT/MIN(22)/34  
 
- 14 - 
 
  ANNEX 2  
WTO Secretariat Information Sharing Sessions and Workshops  
Date  Title Description  
28/02/2022  Second WHO, WIPO, WTO workshop on 
innovation in, and access to, COVID -19 
technologies  Joint workshop on accessing and using information 
resources developed by WTO, WHO and/or W IPO and 
other stakeholders to support Members in addressing 
and recovering from the pandemic.  
11/02/2022  Technical workshop on COVID -19 
Vaccines R&D, Manufacturing and 
Distribution   Technical workshop focused on practical aspects of 
COVID -19 vaccine R&D, manufacturing, regulatory 
approval, distribution, and coordination of vaccination 
campaigns.  
28/01/2022  Committee on Market Access - 
Information Session on Trade in 
COVID -19 Related Goods  Informal updat e to the Committee on Market Access on 
Secretariat work, including information notes and new 
tools, in relation to trade in medical goods, trade in 
COVID -19 vaccines, and trade -related bottlenecks and 
trade-facilitating measures on critical products to com bat 
COVID -19. 
25/11/2021  DG information session on access to 
COVID -19 vaccines and WTO -IMF 
COVID -19 Vaccine Trade Tracker   DG briefing for Members and Observers on WTO 
Secretariat work to support equitable access to COVID -
19 vaccines. Secretariat presentation of IMF-WTO 
COVID -19 Vaccine Trade Tracker .  
12/10/2021  Access to COVID -19 Vaccines: WTO 
collaborative initiatives and analysis on 
supply chains and tariffs   DDG briefing for Members and observers on Secretariat's 
contribution to a range of coll aborative initiatives, 
including the Multilateral Leaders Task Force on COVID -
19, WHO, WIPO, WTO Trilateral Cooperation , the COVAX 
Manufacturing Task Force , and the Access to COVID -19 
Tools (ACT) Accelerator . 
27/09/2021  WHO, WIPO, WTO workshop on 
Innovation in, and Access to, COVID -
19 Technologies   Joint workshop for policymakers and experts from WHO, 
WIPO and WTO Members focused on IP  licensing, 
technology transfer, and sharing of know -how and 
clinical trial information, aiming to strengthen capacity to 
address the COVID -19 pandemic.  
26/05/2021  2021 trade and public health webinar: 
Delivering medical technologies and 
vaccines to end users  A panel of experts discussed trade in medical goods and 
services during pandemic times, facilitating cross -border 
movement of vaccines, and ensuring successful delivery 
and use of medical technologies and vaccines.  
19/05/2021  2021 trade and public health webinar: 
Access to Medical Technologies - 
Government, Industry, Civil Society, 
Academia and IGO Perspectives  A panel of experts shared different perspectives on 
access to medical technologies over the past 25 years, 
touching upon developments, challenges and catalysts; 
cooperation and partnerships; transfer of technology and 
know-how and sharing of data; building local or regional 
capacity; and empirical foundations for effective and 
informed decision -making.  
12/05/2021  2021 trade and public health webinar: 
Disseminat ion of health technologies  A panel of experts discussed the impact of the TRIPS 
Agreement on health technology diffusion over the past 
25 years, as well as practical considerations and policies 
on innovation, IP sharing, and local production .  
21/10/2020  WTO workshop on health, trade and 
intellectual property: an integrated 
approach to COVID -19 Technical workshop to support WTO Members and 
Observers in building capaci ty to assess and review 
domestic health systems, IP regimes and trade policy 
settings to address the COVID -19 pandemic. Introduced 
the second edition of the WHO -WIPO -WTO study 
"Promoting Access to Medical Technologies and 
Innovation ". 
24/06/2020  SPS Commit tee information -sharing 
session on COVID -19 Informal  information -sharing session with a Secretariat 
overview of documents submitted by Members in relation 
to COVID -19, an STDF presentation on its COVID -19 
response, and updates from Members, the three relev ant 
international standard setting bodies (Codex 
Alimentarius, the World Organi zation for Animal Health 
(OIE) and the International Plant Protection Convention 
(IPPC)), WHO and other observers.  
 
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