Vaccine shipments, legal hurdles on Jaishankar’s agenda

Minister is due to meet U.S. officials on sharing stockpile, early EUA.

Ironing out issues over procuring more vaccines for Indians, including the U.S. demand for indemnity and early Emergency Use Authorisation, is expected to dominate the agenda as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar began a series of meetings in Washington over Thursday and Friday, with the U.S. government and industry groups on COVID-19 related issues. Officials, however, stressed that vaccine procurement is not the “only agenda” for the EAM’s visit as discussions on the Indo-Pacific, Quad cooperation and strategic issues will also take place. However, a substantial part of Mr. Jaishankar’s discussions with the U.S. State Department will focus on requests for Washington to share its stockpile of AstraZeneca vaccines, as well as to release more vaccine ingredients and components required for manufacturing in India. Sources also confirmed that India’s joint proposal at the WTO for a TRIPs or patent waiver on vaccines will come up during his talks with U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai. And his discussions with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s “Global Task Force” for industry heads will include many pharmaceutical companies, where stepping up India’s vaccine imports will be on the agenda.