ワクチン特許放棄で意見交換　茂木外相と米通商代表

　【ワシントン時事】茂木敏充外相とタイ米通商代表部（ＵＳＴＲ）代表は１９日に電話会談し、世界貿易機関（ＷＴＯ）で議論が行われている新型コロナワクチン特許権の一時放棄をめぐる問題で意見交換した。バイデン米政権は途上国の要求に応じて特許放棄を支持する姿勢に転じており、同盟国である日本に米政府の方針を説明した。
　ＵＳＴＲの声明によると、タイ氏はワクチンの生産拡大や特許問題について「ＷＴＯや先進７カ国（Ｇ７）など多国間の枠組みを通じて取り組む」と説明。日本の外務省は声明で、茂木外相が「国際的な議論に建設的に関与していく」と応じたと明らかにした。日米両政府は今後、ワクチンに関して緊密に連携することを確認した。（2021/05/20-00:35）

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai exchanged opinions over the phone Wednesday about the issue of a temporary patent waiver for COVID-19 vaccines being discussed at the World Trade Organization.
   With the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden having declared its support for such a waiver to meet developing countries' demands, Tai explained Washington' policy on the matter to Japan, an ally of the United States.
   According to a statement released by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Tai said during the talks with Motegi that the U.S. administration "will work multilaterally on this critical issue, including at the WTO, through COVAX," or COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access, and the Group of Seven framework.
   Motegi responded by saying that Japan will engage constructively in international discussions centered around the WTO, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.
   The two sides agreed to continue to cooperate closely regarding international initiatives related to vaccines.