Waiver Under The TRIPS Agreement Amid COVID-19

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has been established w.e.f. January 1, 1995 during the Uruguay Round Ministerial Meeting held on April 15, 1994 by adoption of the Marrakesh Declaration. WTO facilitates international trade in goods and services and provide framework for negotiating trade agreements and dispute resolution process among member nations.

The Marrakesh Agreement has also established 20 separate Uruguay Round Agreements – 16 multilateral and 4 plurilateral - which are administered by WTO. While, the Multilateral Agreements, including Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement, are binding on all member nations of WTO, the Plurilateral Agreements are binding only between signatories thereof.