Minutes - TRIPS Council - View details of the intervention/statement

H.E. Ambassador Xolelwa Mlumbi-Peter
15.3 IPR-RELATED ISSUES IN TRADE POLICY REVIEWS AND THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL'S MONITORING REPORTS
607.   International cooperation and coordination are essential to facilitate the cross-border movement of critical goods, services and personnel by maintaining open and connected supply chains. 608.   Canada has led on, contributed to, and supported a number of statements in multilateral fora (e.g. G20, WTO, APEC) and in other groups of likeminded countries committing to open supply chains and minimizing disruptions to trade during the pandemic. 609.   Here at the WTO, that includes statements that underscore the importance of open and predictable agricultural trade, a Friends of the System statement outlining the critical importance of the rules-based multilateral trading system during this unprecedented global crisis, and the MSME Working Group statement highlighting the importance of supporting MSMEs in the time of COVID-19. 610.   We have advocated, and will continue to stress, that emergency measures – if necessary, to address COVID-19 – be targeted, proportionate, transparent, temporary, and consistent with WTO rules. 611.   Canada continues to work with like-minded partners to turn these bold declarations into concrete, collective, and tangible actions. 612.   As conveners of the Ottawa Group, our objective is to provide leadership, ideas and proposals on possible actions the broader WTO Membership could take to respond to the pandemic. This includes developing and promoting trade rules and policies that will contribute to a sustainable, inclusive and resilient international economic recovery, as well as guide our responses to future global crises. 613.   Canada also remains determined to continue achieving progress in longstanding priorities in WTO reform, to help ensure a strong WTO that is modernized and relevant to 21st-century trade realities.
The Council took note of the information provided.
64.   The Chair invited the Secretariat to report on IP-related issues that had been considered in the context of individual Members' trade policy reviews.
65.   A representative of the Secretariat took the floor.
66.   The representative of Canada took the floor.
67.   The Council took note of the information provided.
IP/C/M/95, IP/C/M/95/Add.1