Open Speech- 1 minute

America will be the arsenal of vaccines in our global fight against COVID-19, just as
America was the arsenal of democracy in World War II. Joseph R. Biden, president of USA.
The United States exercised diplomatic leadership to mobilize an international response to the
COVID-19 pandemic and its secondary impacts while strengthening global biosecurity
infrastructure to address both the current crisis and future health-related threats.

Also, On April 15, 2021, the United States co-hosted the “One World Protected” pledge
event with Gavi which gathered leaders from across the globe, took stock of progress to date
to ensure equitable and accelerated global delivery of COVID-19 vaccines, made the
investment case for contributions to COVAX, and encouraged countries and the private
sector to make new commitments and galvanize additional resources. Governments and the
private sector made pledges to provide more than $300 million in financial contributions,
millions of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses to be shared through COVAX, and
other in-kind assistance.
President Biden is determined to help the global health system build back better. The United
States is committed to working with partners in the private sector and with foreign
governments to strengthen a diversified and resilient global supply chain, improve key global
manufacturing capacities, and close global gaps in the availability and distribution of
vaccines, therapeutics, testing, and PPE.

At the opening of the committee session, delegates will be asked by the presiding chairperson
whether they wish to be placed on the speaker’s list.
Formal Speech-The time limit for individual speeches will be determined by the chairperson but shall
not exceed three minutes.

The Delegate Of United States would like to suspend the formal debate and move into moderated
caucus on the motion with the time period being 12 minutes and individual speaker time being 3
minutes.
MOTION- STEPS TAKEN BY MEMBER NATIONS OF WTO TO
FACILITATE SUPPLIES IN COVID-TIMES
Faster trade and output growth in the second half of 2020 was supported by major
government policy interventions, including significant fiscal stimulus measures in the United
States only. These measures boosted household incomes and supported continued spending
on all goods, including imports. In addition, many businesses and households adapted to the
changing circumstances, finding innovative ways to sustain economic activity in the face of
health-related restrictions on mobility.

In 2021, demand for traded goods was driven by North America (11.4%) due to large fiscal
injections in the United States, which should also stimulate other economies through the trade
channel. Europe and South America both saw import growth of around 8%, while other
regions registered smaller increases.
It was the United States of America with the aim,” we will together build back better,” that
objected to any trade restrictions by member nations in supply of essentials during this testing
times, i.e.

 Angola's import-restricting practices concern was raised by the United States and the
European Union
 The selective tax concern on certain imported products by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the
United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar, was raised by the United States, European
Union and Switzerland
 India's quantitative restrictions on imports of certain pulses, was raised by the United
States along with Australia, Canada and the European Union.
 Indonesia's customs duties on certain telecommunication products, raised by the
United States and European Union.
 Mexico's import quota on glyphosate, raised by the United States

Moreover, in the words of Congresswoman Deborah Ross helping India respond to this crisis
is humane and is in the US' national interest as this pandemic will not end anywhere until it
ends everywhere. Even the U.S. President declared that his government would quickly deploy
a number of COVID-19-related supplies to help India battle its current crisis with the
pandemic. Despite pressure from U.S. Congressmen, business chambers and academics,
U.S., promised to supply medicines and oxygen-management devices, including containers,
concentrators and generators, within a week, and this promised was fulfilled as well. In
addition to the U.S. government’s supplies, the U.S. private sector has also mobilised aid for
various COVID-19 resources in India. As per State Department Spokesperson Ned Price.
While the assistance from the U.S. government has been worth $100 million, the private
sector has donated an additional $400 million, totalling half a billion dollars to India.

The Delegate Of United States would like to suspend the formal debate and move into moderated
caucus on the motion with the time period being 12 minutes and individual speaker time being 3
minutes.

MOTION-The Road Ahead to tackle similar health crisis in the future

As per WTO, The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating health and economic
consequences, with unprecedented disruption to people's lives, the global economy and world
trade. One of the most effective means of addressing this crisis is through timely, accurate
information. An informed public is better positioned to make sound decisions including on
questions related to trade.
On similar lines, in 2014 when the US Geospatial Intelligence Agency used its unique
collection platforms (from satellites) to produce a publicly available map of the Ebola
outbreak in West Africa, it provided valuable information for health and rescue workers. This
kind of intelligence will become increasingly needed now also in the twenty-first century as
governments face globalized threats impacting public health and national security, and the
United States looks forward to develop such models further for world peace and security.

Besides this, there are some practical things that can be done to keep trade flowing and to
increase how trade can support the fight against COVID-19, including:

 Speeding up border checks for medical products and food and minimising the need
for physical interaction between Customs and other border officials and traders at
borders, by digitising processes to the extent possible. Also important will be efforts
to expedite standard formalities to leave room for any necessary additional COVID-
19 controls.
  Secondly, making it convenient and easier for people to stay connected to jobs,
markets – and each other – by: reducing tariffs on information and communication
technology goods and measures affecting access to digitally enabled services
 Thirdly, by Helping medical researchers co-operate on COVID-19 by enabling data
flows. Access to detailed health information is critical to finding a cure for COVID-
19. Yet health data are often subject to strict localisation requirements and cross-
border data flow restrictions. Governments could enable processing and cross-border
transfer of sensitive data to monitor epidemics, and promote the use of restricted
access and secure sandboxes to pool health data on COVID-19.

Most importantly, there is the need to avoid export restrictions on essential goods, such as
medical equipment and, especially, food products. Currently, more than 60 countries have
restricted exports of essential goods and increasingly agriculture and food products. The
lesson of the food price crisis of 2007-08 shall be quoted here which proved that export
restrictions are a recipe for self-inflicted harm, undermining food security for everyone.

Finally, quoting Robert Lighthizer, U.S. Trade Representative

Emphasis should be laid on preserving human life. This is the number one priority of the
United States at this point in time. The least should be done to disrupt supply chains and one
should be cognizant of the effects on our neighbours of such practices.