H.E. Ambassador Xolelwa Mlumbi-Peter (South Africa)

United Kingdom

14 DULY MOTIVATED REQUEST BY LDCS TO EXTEND THE TRANSITION PERIOD UNDER ARTICLE 66.1 OF THE TRIPS AGREEMENT FOR LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRY MEMBERS

833.   The United Kingdom would also like to thank the LDC Group for this communication and for adding this important item to the agenda for the present meeting. 834.   The UK would like to express its support for LDCs. We note the wide range of policy concerns that they face, particularly during this unprecedented time of global pandemic and its impact on social and economic well-being. Therefore, we welcome this discussion and urge Members to find a progressive solution that meets the needs of LDCs, without losing the many successes that have already been achieved. 835.   The UK stands ready to work with and to assist LDCs to ensure that they have the tools necessary to enact and/or maintain a fit-for-purpose intellectual property framework, and we look forward to further discussions on this issue in the future.

The Council took note of the statements made and agreed to revert to the matter at its next meeting.

78. The Chair said that the agenda item had been requested by Chad, on behalf of the LDC Group; and a communication had been circulated. She recalled that the transition period for LDC Members had been extended twice: Most recently, by the TRIPS Council Decision of 11 June 2013. Regarding extensions of the transition period, the second sentence of Article 66.1 of the TRIPS Agreement provided that "The Council for TRIPS shall, upon duly motivated request by a least developed country Member, accord extensions of this period." She invited the LDC Group to introduce the request.
79. The representative of Chad, on behalf of the LDC Group took the floor.
80. The Chair invited Members to take the floor.
81. The representatives of Bangladesh; Bangladesh, on behalf of the LDC Group, Nepal; Mali; Cambodia; Angola; Afghanistan; Senegal; Jamaica, on behalf of the ACP Group; China; South Africa; Argentina; Egypt; Tanzania, on behalf of the African Group; Indonesia; Turkey; the United States of America; the European Union; Oman; India; Japan; Nigeria; the United Kingdom; Switzerland; and the World Health Organization (WHO) took the floor.
82. The Chair proposed that the LDC Group consult with the Members, that had intervened at the present meeting, to bridge the differences. She would also be available to consult with Members. Considering the time-sensitivity due to the upcoming deadline in 2021, she proposed to revert to the request at the next meeting.
83. The Council took note of the statements made and agreed to revert to the matter at its next meeting.

IP/C/M/96, IP/C/M/96/Add.1