Africa group asks for changes to WTO rules

On the 19th of June, the Africa Group at the World Trade Organization (WTO) has again asked for changes to WTO rules governing the acquisition and transfer of IP for the purpose of tackling a number of environmental and development challenges. This follows the March 2023 publication of a communication which laid out the groups’ concerns and suggested approaches, which was then followed by the further publication of numerous communications expanding on the topic in July of that year and May this year. In its call to the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment, the Africa Group has stressed the use of such technologies to carry out a green transition and enable green industrialisation, and has noted the use of industrial policies by the developed world which are intended to support their own green industries at the expense of those of developing nations. The paper circulated in May also specifically referred to the need to rework trade rules in relation to the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (ASCM), Trade-Related Investment Measures (TRIMs) and Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).