A Joint Declaration on the Importance of Collaboration, Open Trade, and Innovation in Tackling COVID-19

The Global Trade and Innovation Policy Alliance (GTIPA), a body of leading trade, economic and innovation think tanks around the world that work together to support growth through innovation and open market policies issued a statement are calling for policy measures to assure the supply of essential medical goods and to support the innovation that will enable future COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. Issued on May 18 to mark the opening of the WHO’s World Health Assembly, it addresses tariffs, export bans, the cross-border flow of epidemiological and clinical data, and the protection of intellectual property rights, issues which if not addressed could slow the global health response to COVID-19 and inhibit future research.