US may ease vaccine raw material curbs

Sandeep Dikshit

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 20

India’s vaccine production remains at suboptimal levels despite a conversation between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

“We have taken up the issue very strongly with the US authorities,” said sources, adding that they were expecting a resolution of the US ban on export of raw material for vaccines that has hit their manufacturing in India.

The White House skirted questions on the request by the Serum Institute of India (SII) to lift the export ban on certain raw materials needed for ramping up production of Covid-19 vaccine.

Readouts by both foreign offices show the subject was discussed by Jaishankar and Blinken. But the US State Department made a passing reference to it, along with climate change and “other global issues”. Jaishankar said he “also discussed issues pertaining to our health cooperation”.

Hours later, Jaishankar said he was pushing other countries, particularly “some big ones”, to keep raw material flowing for vaccines.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.