APEC ministers pledge to expedite transit of Covid-19 vaccines, related goods

Ministers from the Asia-Pacific trade group APEC on Saturday agreed to review trade barriers and expedite the cross-border transit of Covid-19 vaccines and related goods, but stopped short of a broad commitment to remove tariffs.

A meeting of trade ministers from the 21-economy group, which includes the United States, China and Japan, also produced pledges to support World Trade Organisation negotiations for an intellectual property waiver on Covid-19 vaccines.

In three statements issued after the meeting, the ministers said they would "expedite the flow and transit of all Covid-19 vaccines and related goods through their air, sea and land ports."

"We will consider voluntary actions to reduce the cost of these products for our people, particularly by encouraging each economy to review its own charges levied at the border on Covid-19 vaccines and related goods," one statement said.

The ministers also said they were...