TAPP Applauds Bipartisan Group of Senators Holding USTR Accountable

United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai recently announced that a “compromise outcome” was reached with the European Union, South Africa, and India on the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) waiver related to COVID-19 vaccines. The agreement on TRIPS protects intellectual property for COVID-19 treatments, vaccines, and diagnostics. The USTR’s action negates intellectual property rights.

The so-called compromise was made before informing Congress on the specifics of the text, violating the Transparency Principles USTR established in 2021. USTR Tai has gone rogue and totally disregarded her obligation to provide Congress all texts for trade proposals at the World Trade Organization. The guidelines are clear: “consultation and engagement is vital to ensuring that trade policy reflects American interests and American values.”

Several prominent Senators wrote to USTR Tai to remind her of her duty to inform and consult Congress on all aspects of negotiations involving international trade policy.

We applaud the following Senators for holding USTR accountable to the Transparency Principles: Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Charles E. Grassley (R-IA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Ben Sasse (R-NE).

Read the Senators’ letter to USTR Tai here.

The TRIPS waiver sets a dangerous precedent of unencumbered power of the executive branch without the consultation of Congress.

TAPP calls on USTR Tai to allow Congress to exercise their Constitutional authority and ensure that Congress is an equal partner in crafting trade policy.