European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Tuesday a strategic partnership between the European Union and Canada on raw materials following a summit with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. She stated the EU aims to "diversify away from China" and focus on decreasing environmental damage and securing a higher level of transparency on labor practices.
The two sides also agreed to continue their partnership under the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), including signing a mutual recognition agreement to facilitate the transfer of goods across borders and speed up the flow of trade. On the subject of COVID-19 vaccine patents, European Council President Charles Michel stated the waiving patents "will not magically solve everything," stressing instead that vaccine production should be increased and diversified. Von der Leyen stated intellectual property rights are an "award" for innovation, and pointed out a proposal for compulsory licencing during crisis times, which would lower remunerations for the patent holders.
