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.