Tuesday, May 11, 2021
In a surprising announcement last week, the United States (US) reversed course on its position towards the COVID-10 TRIPS Agreement waiver negotiations, saying it would negotiate a waiver at the World Trade Organization (WTO). US Republican lawmakers and the pharmaceutical industry pushed back on the decision, warning it would allow the People’s Republic of China (“China”) to gain access to American innovation. Meanwhile, tension between the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) flared this past week over fishery rights with an English Channel island, Jersey. The UK hosted Group of Seven (G7) meetings and focused on climate change, Viet Nam and India. And the European Commission released its long-anticipated proposed regulation related to distortive foreign subsidies, along with its update to the EU’s Industrial Strategy.
American Jobs Plan Unveiled
On Wednesday, March 31, U.S. President Joe Biden outlined roughly a $2 trillion legislative proposal – the American Jobs Plan (“the Plan”) – that would be spread over eight years to build back better the American economy from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The President called it a “once-in-a generation investment in America” that would create skilled jobs, grow the economy, make the country more competitive globally, promote U.S. national security interests, and position the United States to be competitive with China. Among other things, the Plan would create jobs that pay prevailing wages in safe and healthy workplaces while ensuring workers have a free and fair choice to organize, join a union, and bargain collectively with their employers. A White House fact sheet on the Plan is available here.
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‘Relief is finally on the way’: Wyden, Merkley hail passage of COVID relief package
WASHINGTON (KTVZ) Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., praised the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package that Senate Democrats passed in a narrow, party-line vote Saturday.
Wyden s initial statement:
“Democrats have succeeded in passing the boldest economic relief package in recent memory. Our bill continues the historic actions Democrats have taken on behalf of jobless Americans, sends relief payments to working- and middle-class families in Oregon and nationwide, cuts child poverty in half, and boosts the take home pay of millions of essential workers like grocery store clerks and home health aides. This package also provides critical aid to states, cities, and local communities to prevent massive budget shortfalls and permanent layoffs of teachers and firefighters. Democrats learned the lessons of the Great Recession, and committed to advancing economic relief that meets the unprece