The Biden administration has conveyed to New Delhi that it understands India’s pharmaceutical requirements and has promised to consider that given the current difficulty in exporting raw materials required for the manufacture of Covid-19 vaccines. Form is due to an act. Forces American companies to prioritize domestic consumption.
President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump had enacted the Wartime Defense Production Act (DPA), which in addition to giving priority to the production of Covid-19 vaccines and personal protective equipment (PPE) for domestic companies to American companies there is no substitute. The country most affected by the deadly pandemic in America.
Since the US has mostly forayed into production of Covid-19 vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna, its raw material suppliers, which are in high demand globally, to meet the goal of immunizing their entire population by 4 July And later major Indian manufacturers are being forced to provide it only to domestic manufacturers. Among other things, the DPA, which was enacted in 1950, authorizes the President to require businesses to accept and prioritize contracts for material needed for national defense, regardless of the loss on trade .
Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO Adar Poonawala gained global attention in recent times, tagging President Biden in a tweet. Respected @PUSUS, if we were in the U.S. Outside of the vaccine industry are really united in beating this virus, I humbly request you to export raw materials to the US. Details of your administration, ”he tweeted.
SII is the world’s largest producer of Covid-19 vaccine. Neither the US nor India have released details of the raw material they are asking the US for. In recent weeks, India’s Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu has been taking up the matter with Biden administration officials. During its meetings with US negotiators, the top Indian diplomat has demanded a smooth supply of some inputs for the production of Covid-19 vaccines in India.
In addition, officials from both sides have deliberated to ease the supply of critical materials in view of their increasing requirements in both the US and India. The US side has clarified that there are no export restrictions on such items and domestic regulations have only prioritized the use of these materials for the production of vaccines in the US, sources said are familiar with the negotiations.