Suspendan todas las negociaciones de tratados comerciales y de inversiones durante la crisis del COVID-19 y enfóquense en el acceso a suministros médicos y en salvar vidas

The statement argues that the COVID-19 pandemic has created an urgent need for governments to focus all resources on public health, specifically the procurement of medical supplies, vaccines, and medicines. It calls for the immediate suspension of trade and investment negotiations at the WTO, bilateral, and regional levels, asserting that such activities divert critical resources and personnel. The authors highlight that intellectual property rules under the WTO's TRIPS agreement and free trade agreements may obstruct the affordability and accessibility of life-saving supplies. The document demands the removal of all trade barriers and unilateral sanctions that hinder medical procurement and urges a fundamental rethink of trade rules that encourage monopolies and limit healthcare access.

• The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a critical shortage of essential medical supplies, including test kits, personal protective equipment (masks and respirators), vaccines, and medicines, which is particularly acute in developing countries.
• Intellectual property obligations within the WTO's Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) and various free trade agreements may act as barriers to the sourcing, access, and affordability of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.
• The authors argue that continuing trade negotiations via virtual technologies is unfeasible for many developing and least-developed countries due to the digital divide and the need to prioritize emergency health resources.
• The statement demands the immediate removal of all trade obstacles, including intellectual property rules, that prevent timely and affordable access to life-saving medical devices, diagnostics, and vaccines.
• The document calls for an end to unilateral sanctions that prevent countries from obtaining essential medical supplies.
• There is a call for a fundamental reassessment of trade rules that promote monopolies and restrict affordable access to medical supplies, which the authors claim puts lives at risk globally.

APA

admin (2020). Suspendan todas las negociaciones de tratados comerciales y de inversiones durante la crisis del COVID-19 y enfóquense en el acceso a suministros médicos y en salvar vidas. Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/es/suspendan-todas-las-negociaciones-de-tratados-comerciales-y-de-inversiones-durante-la-crisis-del-covid-19-y-enfoquense-en-el-acceso-a-suministros-medicos-y-en-salvar-vidas/

Chicago

admin. Suspendan todas las negociaciones de tratados comerciales y de inversiones durante la crisis del COVID-19 y enfóquense en el acceso a suministros médicos y en salvar vidas. Friends of the Earth International, 2020. https://www.foei.org/es/suspendan-todas-las-negociaciones-de-tratados-comerciales-y-de-inversiones-durante-la-crisis-del-covid-19-y-enfoquense-en-el-acceso-a-suministros-medicos-y-en-salvar-vidas/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=admin |title=Suspendan todas las negociaciones de tratados comerciales y de inversiones durante la crisis del COVID-19 y enfóquense en el acceso a suministros médicos y en salvar vidas |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |date=21 April 2020 |url=https://www.foei.org/es/suspendan-todas-las-negociaciones-de-tratados-comerciales-y-de-inversiones-durante-la-crisis-del-covid-19-y-enfoquense-en-el-acceso-a-suministros-medicos-y-en-salvar-vidas/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{admin2020suspendan, author = {admin}, title = {{Suspendan todas las negociaciones de tratados comerciales y de inversiones durante la crisis del COVID-19 y enfóquense en el acceso a suministros médicos y en salvar vidas}}, publisher = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2020}, month = apr, url = {https://www.foei.org/es/suspendan-todas-las-negociaciones-de-tratados-comerciales-y-de-inversiones-durante-la-crisis-del-covid-19-y-enfoquense-en-el-acceso-a-suministros-medicos-y-en-salvar-vidas/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }