Manufacturers Unite To Protect Intellectual Property Rights
Manufacturing associations across almost 40 states joined with the Na- tional Association of Manufacturers (NAM) in calling on the White House to safeguard intellectual property at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The WTO is considering waiving IP rights for COVID-19-related vaccines and treatments—an action that would harm American manufacturers that have led the fight against COVID-19.
Packaging ERP Algorithmic Scheduling Web-Based Access Online Customer Portals Paperless Workflows Mobile Sales Systems Digital Signage Production Monitoring Mobile Logistics Analytics & Reporting Cloud Hosting IT Management Services Cyber Security Management
The NAM has previously pushed back aggressively on the proposal, and alongside manufacturers nationwide, it is stepping up its work. In a letter addressed to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai and other senior Biden administration offi- cials, the NAM joined nearly 40 state manufacturing organizations in argu- ing that waiving these IP rights will negatively affect American manufactur- ing—as well as the overall fight against COVID-19. According to NAM, “This proposal would weaken critical global rules for IP protections that support innovation in a range of manufacturing sec- tors by including not only broad new categories of COVID-19 products, but also their upstream supply chains. Furthermore, an expanded waiver allows commercial rivals like China to unfairly seize American innovation to benefit their domestic economies.” Those manufacturing associations argue that IP gives an incentive for manufacturers to broaden research and development and a reason to in- vest in expanding industries. American manufacturers are concerned that the IP waivers would expose them to unfair competition from foreign rivals and would take away employment opportunities from Americans. “Our organizations strongly urge the Biden administration and Con- gress to stand with manufacturers and workers to firmly oppose an ex- panded IP waiver at the WTO," said NAM in a press release. "We stand ready to work with you and your agencies in support of real solutions to the pandemic and future health crises—and to advance U.S. leadership in manufacturing and innovation.” Today, the NAM is still innovating and disrupting an ever-changing na- tional landscape in order to build our industry, create progress and ad- vance the values that make our nation exceptional: free enterprise, com- petitiveness, individual liberty and equal opportunity. We are the one-stop shop for manufacturers, delivering expertise in advocacy, workforce de- velopment, legal action and operational excellence. Visit nam.org .
600 + Plants 60,000 Users North America Latin America
12
www.boardconvertingnews.com
October 24, 2022
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online