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Déjà vu in Geneva: Rich and poor countries in tense conflict over final rulebook for next pandemic

News March 24, 2026 / By: Ann Danaiya Usher

There is a deep North-South split in the 11th hour of negotiations in Geneva to finalise the global pandemic treaty. At stake are rules that will govern access to pathogens used to produce vaccines and medicines against the next pandemic. A draft text that largely reflects the EU and Norway’s concerns faces massive critique. Developing countries say they will not accept being last in line for vaccines again, as they were during covid. Diplomats tell Development Today that Norway is no longer acting as a bridgebuilder to the Global South.

third-meeting-of-the-intergovernmental-working-group-on-the-who-pandemic-agreement.tmb-1920v 1 CROPPED.jpg

Negotiations over the PABS annex enter the final stretch. Here, from an earlier session at WHO in Geneva last November. (Photo by Christopher Black / WHO)

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