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Despite the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, the World Trade Organization (WTO) continues to consider expanding the 2022 intellectual property (IP) waiver on COVID-19 vaccines to include treatments and tests under the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
The Biden Administration is still considering whether to support the expansion, despite voters’ clear support of IP protections. A recent Morning Consult/PhRMA poll found that Americans are deeply concerned about how a waiver expansion would weaken the innovation environment, threaten U.S. manufacturing and jobs, and cede innovation leadership to other countries.
Here are four insights from the survey:
1. Americans believe waiving IP will not help pandemic preparedness.
- When asked how the U.S. can prepare for the next global pandemic, the overwhelming majority (76%) of Americans say that U.S. companies should build on their research and manufacturing capabilities. Less than one in four (24%) prefer waiving IP.
- Similarly, 71% believe that trade, regulatory and distribution channels are the major barriers for patient access to COVID-19 treatments, not IP protections (29%).
2. Americans see the proposed TRIPS waiver expansion as a threat to domestic manufacturing and jobs.
- More than six of every 10 (63%) Americans agree now is not the time to expand the TRIPS waiver because it would help foreign competitors and weaken a strategically important American industry. Americans who self-report living in labor union households are even more likely to agree (74%).
- Strong majorities are concerned that expanding the TRIPS waiver will undermine American jobs (63%), have damaging effects for U.S. manufacturing and our skilled workers (63%), and outsource American jobs overseas (64%).
3. Americans believe that strong IP protections are the backbone of innovation, which is critical to the continued strength of the U.S. economy and development of new medicines.
- Three-quarters of Americans (74%) — including 78% of Americans living in labor households — agree that protecting the IP of U.S. innovators supports U.S. manufacturing and jobs.
- Strong consensus shows that the U.S. needs strong IP protections to encourage innovation (80% agree), and that innovation and creativity are highly valued in the U.S. (78% agree).
4. Americans saw the importance of IP during the COVID-19 pandemic and recognize alternative solutions to expand global access and public health instead of undermining American innovators.
- More than twice as many Americans say that IP protections are a main reason innovative solutions were developed in record time for COVID-19 (68%) than think IP protections are a barrier to access for many patients (32%).
- Americans value collaboration between the U.S. government and the pharmaceutical industry. 63% of Americans — including 71% of Americans living in labor union households — agree that public-private-partnerships are the best way to ensure global health security.
Instead of waiving commitments to protect IP, Americans want to see policymakers protect American jobs and economic growth by supporting innovative industries and workers. The Biden Administration should reject any expansion of the TRIPS waiver and instead focus on solving real global health challenge and ensuring that global policies promote innovation.
For more on the survey, please click here.
Hannah Loiacono
Hannah Loiacono is a director of public affairs at PhRMA, where she leads communications on PhRMA’s international priorities. Before joining PhRMA, she worked for a public affairs firm where she primarily supported health care related communications and research. Outside of the office, Hannah enjoys exploring Washington, D.C. with her dog Earl, attending concerts and cooking.
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