Letter to WTO Members: Postpone the 12th Ministerial - TRIPS Waiver Now!
November 23, 2021
Dear WTO Members:
Our world is mired in multiple crises. The worst global pandemic in a century has exposed deep ruptures
between the Global North and South, rich and poor, privileged and vulnerable. Vaccination rates in lowincome countries average 7% while rich countries are giving booster shots to almost fully vaccinatedpopulations. Almost two years into the pandemic, there is no sign of these gaps closing.
The climate crisis is accelerating environmental and human devastation around the world. Thesecatastrophes occur on top of chronic indebtedness - greatly exacerbated in developing countries due to theexternal shock of Covid-19 - instability, and systemic inequalities of poorer countries, waged andunemployed workers, women, indigenous peoples and vulnerable communities.
The WTO is also in crisis. It has utterly failed to resolve the vaccine apartheid that is a direct result of themonopolies that its Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) confers on
multinational pharmaceutical companies that have benefitted from massive public subsidies.
The COVID-19 TRIPS waiver can be agreed by the WTO’s General Council in Geneva, which has alreadyapproved numerous other waivers. Yet, the proposal is not yet agreed a year after it was tabled. The
shameful refusal of a handful of powerful governments to grant a TRIPS waiver for Covid-19 related
intellectual property rights confirms the WTO’s systemic priority of profits over people.
Despite the uncontested magnitude of this crisis, the WTO Director-General and General Council chair areproceeding towards holding the twelfth Ministerial Conference (MC12) in Geneva in person from 30
November to 3 December this year.
The Director-General took this decision despite a significant number of Ministers and their lead officials not
being able to travel safely to Geneva for the MC12. Some may be unable to travel at all, because ongoing
COVID-related travel disruptions mean that there are no commercial flights in and out of their countries oraccessible transit points. Many are from countries that are basically unvaccinated. The vaccines utilised insome countries are not recognised for internal meetings in Switzerland. Requirements set by transit
countries, and the costs and inconvenience of quarantine when returning home, will add to the problems ofpracticality and affordability for many Ministers. The obvious inequities will favour those with Swissrecognised vaccinations, ease of travel, proximity and Geneva-based delegations – that is rich countries fromthe Global North.
The WTO claims to be a consensus based organisation. The decision to hold a Ministerial when some
Ministers are unable to attend will ensure that any decisions taken in this context will lack any pretence oflegitimacy.
Moreover, the WTO Secretariat has failed to present a plan that will ensure the physical safety and effective
participation of those who do attend in person. Requirements for repeated testing during the course of theministerial, limits on numbers of people who can enter buildings and negotiating rooms, and inevitable
logistical log-jams will likely make the conference unworkable. Further, there is the risk that an infected
person might have to pay for a Swiss hospital stay, or force their delegation into quarantine or even theentire venue into lockdown.

The alternatives of a hybrid or virtual ministerial conference are equally untenable. Ministers and theirsenior officials who are unable to attend will be at an inherent disadvantage. If they cannot be in the room,
they cannot participate as equals in deliberations on matters of fundamental importance to them, such as
fisheries, agriculture, or the TRIPS waiver. In other meetings, unreliable connectivity (which is unfortunately
a fact of life in many developing countries) and variable time zones have led to ministers simply presenting
plenary statements to their own region.
Thus, the institution whose rules enforce vaccine apartheid is, unbelieveably, attempting to have a meeting
under conditions of vaccine apartheid, without having first resolved that apartheid by agreeing to the TRIPS
waiver. To proceed under these circumstances will further erode the WTO’s legitimacy, and undermine thecredibility of the new Director-General, at a time when the Organization’s credibility is already at an all timelow.
The determination to proceed with the MC12 continues the long-standing efforts of rich and powerful WTO
Members to control the WTO’s agenda and decisions and to marginalise the governments of the Global
South and the world’s peoples. There are several other important and unresolved matters on the WTO’sagenda today, such as the urgent need to remove WTO barriers to food sovereignty and development byconcluding a permanent solution to public stockholding, and the development agenda. But these issues arebeing pushed aside by rich countries demanding an agenda that will consolidate their power and theircorporations’ profits, and their influence in the domestic policymaking of nation states. This agenda includes
proposed “plurilateral” agreements on Domestic Regulation, Investment Facilitation, and Digital Trade,which are not even legal under the WTO’s mandate, would erode democracy and further exacerbate themultiple crises facing the world today. These demands have no place in any global agenda, and especially notin the midst of a global pandemic.
We therefore call on the Director-General, the chair of the General Council, and utimately the WTO
Membership itself to postpone the MC12. We call instead for all Members and the Secretariat, to place all
efforts on coming to urgent agreement on the TRIPS waiver to remove the barriers of intellectual property
rules for products to prevent, treat or contain COVID-19.
Endorsers:
International and regional networks:

1

ACP Civil Society Forum

2African Organization of theInternational Trade Union
Confederation (ITUC-Africa)

3

Asia Pacific Forum on Women,
Law and Development (APWLD)

4

Citizen News Service (CNS)ACP Civil Society Forum is the platform for ACP Civil Society
Organizations in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific for
involvement in ACP EU WTO and all international trade anddevelopment cooperation.
The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade
Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) is a pan-African trade unionorganisation. ITUC-Africa has 17 million declared members and101 affiliated trade union centres in 51 African countries.
APWLD is the leading network of feminist organizations andindividual activists in Asia Pacific. APWLD’s 252 members
represent groups of diverse women from 27 countries in Asia
Pacific. Over the past 34 years, APWLD has actively worked
towards advancing women’s human rights and Development
Justice.
CNS provides communication, policy and advocacy support on
issues around development justice worldwide. They are based inIndia and Thailand.

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5Corporate Europe Observatory(CEO)6

DAWN (Development
Alternatives with Women for aNew Era)

7

East African Trade Union
Confederation (EATUC)

8

Education International

9Focus on the Global South

10

Friends of the Earth International(FoEI)

11

Friends of the Earth Latin America
and the Caribbean (ATALC)

12

Global Alliance for Tax Justice(GATJ)

13

Institute for Economic Researchon Innovation (IERI)

14International Grail Justice andTrade Network

Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) is a research and campaign
group working to expose and challenge the privileged access andinfluence enjoyed by corporations and their lobby groups in EU
policy making.
DAWN is a feminist network based in the Global South working topromote gender equality and women's human rights within a justand sustainable economic, political, ecological and social system.
EATUC is instrumental in ensuring that the East African
Community involves workers in all issues concerning regional
integration, establish tripartism as an important mechanism ofconsultation and dialogue, promote the ratification ofinternational labour standards by the partner states, promote theintegration of youth and women in all spheres of socio-economic
development, promote the decent work agenda, harmonizationof labour laws and policies in East Africa and promote theconcept of free movement of factors of production in the region.
Education International is the Global Union Federation that brings
together organisations of teachers and other education
employees from across the world. Through its 383 member
organisations, they represent more than 32 million teachers andeducation support personnel in 178 countries and territories.
Focus on the Global South is an activist think tank in Asia
providing analysis & building alternatives for just social, economic& political change.
FoEI is the world’s largest grassroots environmental network,
uniting 73 national member groups and some 5,000 local activist
groups on every continent. With over 2 million members andsupporters around the world, FoEI campaign on today’s mosturgent environmental and social issues.
ATALC is the network of 14 organizations in the region that also
form part of Friends of the Earth International (FoEI). We work forsystem change from the perspective of enviromental, social,economic and gender justice.
The Global Alliance for Tax Justice (GATJ) is a global coalition in
the tax justice movement. GATJ campaigns for progressive andredistributive taxation systems nationally, and for a transparent,inclusive and representative global tax governanceinternationally, which ensures the right of developing countries
to tax part of multinational corporations' global profits generated
in their economies.
The Institute for Economic Research on Innovation (IERI) does
policy research in the political economy of knowledge to promotesustainable economic growth, social development and politicaldemocracy.
The Grail is an international spiritual, cultural and social
movement of women - celebrating its centenary this year.
Founded in the Netherlands in 1921, it is now active in over 20
countries in all six continents. The Grail works for thedevelopment of women's talents and capacities and theircontribution to the transformation of the world in peace, justiceand love.

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15

International Union of Food,
Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant,Catering, Tourism, Tobacco andAllied Workers’ Associations (IUF)

16International Women's Rights
Action Watch Asia Pacific17International-Lawyers.Org(INTLawyers)

18
19

Pacific Network on Globalisation(PANG)Pan African Association for
Literacy and Adult Education(PAALAE)

20

Public Services International (PSI)

21

Salud y Fármacos

22

Social Watch

23

Universities Allied for EssentialMedicines (UAEM)

The IUF is an international federation of trade unions composedof 421 affiliated trade unions in 128 countries representing over
10 million workers.
International Women's Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific is afeminist organisation that acts to disrupt structures, systems andinstitutions that violate women's human rights.
INTLawyers provides trainings and presentations, produces
publications, brings cases on behalf of individuals and peoples,
advises governments, participates in domestic and international
political and legal processes, and engages in global fora as a voice
for global justice.
PANG is a Pacific Islands regional network promoting selfdetermination and economic justice in the Pacific.
PAALAE has been fighting for education for all, democracy andsolidarity since 2000, and is based out of Dakar, Senegal.
PSI represents 30 million workers in 170 countries to promote
quality public services in every part of the world.
Salud y Fármacos is an international non-profit organization thatpromotes access and the appropriate use of pharmaceuticals
among the Spanish-speaking population.
Social Watch is a network of civil society organizations that keep
their governments accountable for their international
commitments to eradicate poverty and acieve gender equality
The UAEM is a global network of university students who believethat universities have an opportunity and a responsibility toimprove global access to public health and life-saving medicines.

National Organizations:
24 World of Work Institute (IMT)

Argentina

25 Free Path Foundation

Argentina26 Cooperation for Peace and Development (CPD)
27 Australian Arts Trust
28 Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network

Afghanistan
Australia
Australia

29 Community and Public Sector Union, State Public Services Federation (CPSU SPSF)

Australia

30 Data Stream Pty Limited

Australia

31 Missionary Society of St Columban

Australia

32 SEARCH Foundation

Australia

33 Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA

Australia

34 Anders Handeln

Austria

35 Voices for Interactive Choice and Empowerment (VOICE)

Bangladesh

36 Bangladesh Krishok Federation
37 EquityBD

Bangladesh
Bangladesh

38 Centre tricontinental (CETRI)

Belgium

39 National Employees Center (CNE)

Belgium

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41 Internet Bolivia Foundation

Benin
Bolivia

42 Gestures - Seropositivity, Communication and Gender

Brazil43 Tax Justice Institute

Brazil44 Canada Fair Trade Network (CFTN)

Canada45 Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA)

Canada46 Common Frontiers

Canada47 Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC)

Canada48 Quebec Network on Continental Integration (RQIC)

Canada49 The Council of Canadians
50 Trade Justice Prince Edward Island

CanadaCanada51 Association for Research and Social Action (NOMADESC)

Colombia

52 Environment and Society Association

Colombia

53 Observatorio de Victimas

Colombia

54 Association of Public Employees of Antioquia (ADEA)

Colombia

55 Ecumenical Academy

57 Salvadoran Center for Appropriate Technology (CESTA)

Czech
RepublicDominican
Republic
El Salvador

58 Friends of the Earth France

France59 Ghana Trade And Livelihood Coalition (GTLC)

Ghana

60 Nature Friends Greece
61 Confederation of Public and Private Sector Workers (CTSP)GreeceHaiti

62 Platform to Advocate for Alternative Development (PAPDA)

Haiti

63 Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture (ASHA)

India

64 Forum for Trade JusticeIndia

65 Initiative for Health & Equity in Society

India

66 IT for Change

India

67 Sunray Harvesters

India

68 Indonesia for Global Justice (IGJ)

Indonesia

69 Latin America Solidarity Centre (LASC)
70 Fairwatch

IrelandItaly

71 Pacific Asia Resource Center (PARC)Japan

72 Kamukunji Paralegal Trust (KAPLET)

Kenya

73 Policy Analysis and Research Institute of Lesotho (PARIL)
74 Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP)

Lesotho
Malaysia

75 Friends of the Earth Malaysia (SAM)

Malaysia

76 Positive Malaysian Treatment Access & Advocacy Group (MTAAG+)

Malaysia

77 Federation of Democratic Labour Unions

Mauritius

78 Federation of Local Government and Other Labour Unions

Mauritius

79 Mauritius Trade Union Congress (MTUC)

Mauritius

56 National Confederation of Trade-union Unity (CNUS)

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80 Migration and Sustainable Development Alliance

Mauritius

81 Resistance is an Alternative

Mauritius

82 State and Other Employees Federation (SOEF)

Mauritius

83 Mauritius Consumers Association (ACIM)

Mauritius

84 Tacuba Group

Mexico85 Center for Promotion and Professional Education "Vasco de Quiroga"

Mexico86 Mexican Action Network Against Free Trade (RMALC)

Mexico87 Moroccan Euromed Network of NGOs

Morocco88 GEFONT Nepal

Nepal

89 Union of Public Services in Nepal (UPSIN)

Nepal

90 Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa (CAFCA)New Zealand

91 FIRST Union

New Zealand

92 It's Our Future

New Zealand

93 Center for the Rights of the Peasantry (CEDECAM)

Nicaragua

94 Nigerien Network of NGOs and Development Associations for the Defense of
Human Rights and Democracy (RODADDHD)
95 Attac Norway

Niger

96 No to the EU

Norway97 Norwegian Trade Campaign

Norway98 Spire

Norway99 Noor Pakistan

Pakistan

100 Ecological Voices Collective (COVEC)

Panama101 Association of Technology, Education, Development, Research and Communication(TEDIC)
102 Let's Decide! Campaign for Citizen Expression

Paraguay

103 Federation of Water and Sewage Workers (FENTAP)

Peru

104 United Confederation of Workers (CUT)Peru

105 Gender and Economy Group (GGE)Peru

106 Peruvian Fair Trade and Ethical Consumption NetworkPeru

107 Center for United and Progressive Workers (SENTRO)

Philippines

108 WomanHealth Philippines

Philippines

109 Trade Justice Pilipinas

Philippines

110 Green Zone Foundation

Poland111 AFRICANDO

Senegal112 Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)

South Africa

113 South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA)

South Africa

114 Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO)South Sudan

115 Universal Union for Solidarity DevelopmentSpain

116 Association for Proper Internet Governance (APIG)

Switzerland

117 Attac Switzerland

Switzerland

118 Public Eye

Switzerland

NorwayParaguay

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119 Governance Links

Tanzania

120 Humanitaire Plus

Togo

121 Information Communications Technology for Development (ICT4D)

Uganda122 Southern and Eastern African Trade Information and Negotiations Institute(SEATINI)
123 Global Justice Now

Uganda128 Milwaukee Fair Trade Coalition

UnitedKingdom
UnitedKingdom
UnitedKingdom
UnitedKingdom
UnitedKingdom
United States

129 Foundation for Integrative AIDS Research

United States

130 Social WatchUruguay

131 Social Ecology Network (REDES) - Friends of the Earth Uruguay
132 Classist Tendency Coalition (CTC-VZLA)

Uruguay
Venezuela

133 SCODEVietnam

124 Trade Justice Movement
125 UNISON
126 War on Want
127 Just Treatment

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