World reacts to US stance on vaccine patents - a podcast by BBC World Service

The EU has responded to the US favouring a waiver of coronavirus vaccine patents. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen says the bloc is prepared to discuss how a suspension could work. We get reaction to the development from Thomas Cueni, director general of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations. And we get further analysis from Dr Ayoade Alakija, co-chair of the AU Africa Vaccine Delivery Alliance for Covid-19. Also in the programme, almost all of the UK's 50 biggest employers questioned by the BBC have said they do not plan to bring staff back to the office full time. We discuss the implications with the BBC's business editor, Simon Jack. Plus, two Royal Navy ships and two French vessels are patrolling near Jersey as a protest by French fishing boats escalates over their post-Brexit fishing rights. Freddie Miller of BBC Jersey explains the background to the dispute.

(Picture: Coronavirus vaccine vials. Picture credit: Getty Images.)

Further episodes of World Business Report

Further podcasts by BBC World Service

Website of BBC World Service