WASHINGTON – United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai today met virtually with labor union leaders to discuss the proposed waiver to the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) for COVID-19 vaccines. Ambassador Tai reiterated that the Biden-Harris Administration’s top priority is saving lives and ending the pandemic in the United States and around the world. The Ambassador conveyed the Administration’s commitment to increasing Covid-19 vaccine production and distribution, both at home and worldwide.
The Ambassador sought their views on increasing vaccine availability and preventing the emergence and spread of new variants that could weaken our ability to end the pandemic. She also emphasized her commitment to improving global health preparedness and a worker-centered trade policy.
Meeting attendees included:
• American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)
• American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)
• International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT)
• International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE)
• National Nurses United (NNU)
• United Steelworkers (USW)
• International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM)
• Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA)
• Department for Professional Employees (DPE)
• The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers (IBB)
• American Federation of Musicians (AFM)
• American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
• Communications Workers of America (CWA)
• UNITE HERE
• Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA)
• Directors Guild of America (DGA)
• United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW)
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