This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Industry, vaccines and patents (DG Trade)'.






Ref. Ares(2021)1400307 - 22/02/2021
Ref. Ares(2021)2029622 - 22/03/2021
Conference organized by EFPIA 
Meeting date and place 
Meeting held on 24/09/2020 14:00 in Brussels 
Participating organisation(s) & representative(s) 
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- - BUSINESSEUROPE (TRN: 3978240953-79) 
Participant
- - European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (TRN:
[
Participant
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38526121292-88) 
 European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations
[Art. 4.1 (b)]
[Art. 4.1 (b)]
Participant
(TRN: 38526121292-88) 
 European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries
ParticipantRequester
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and Associations (TRN: 38526121292-88) 
Contact
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- - SANOFI (TRN: 61291462764-77) 
Participant
Main issues discussed 
The panellists made the following points:
, Sanofi):
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Strategic importance of pharma sector demonstrated by the Covid crisis (
Our message during the crisis was: No export ban,we can supply!
Dangers of reshoring and buy American.Growing risk to go into protectionist measures. Concept of Open Strategic Autonomy needs
to be clarified in this regard.
Need strong IP system, must be part of future FTAs.
Need to link trade and industrial to create eco system for innovation.
:
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TPR ongoing, views welcome
Need to adapt pour trade policy to current challenges. Covid plus resilience, digital and green transitions…
OSA: some misunderstandings: we need openness and work with partners, not protectionism. Autonomy is not isolation. Globalisation
not cause for the crisis, de-globalisation not the solution. 
Also be more assertive in pursuing our rights when others do not cooperate. Like CBAM.
Insist on openness, global cooperation, global rules
Link with industrial strategy: mutually reinforcing need integrated approach
Nature of communication; more general principles than long list of actions to provide for consensus on strategic direction, but keeping
flexibility when facing uncertain future.
Pharma strategy to come, cannot anticipate outcome.
Need for more efforts to integrate internal and external policies in the EU.
, BusinessEurope)
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Open markets and open trade key to get out of the crisis.
Need ambitious trade agenda espec on bilateral front because multilateral one does not depend on us. We must keep creating
opportunities for companies for both exports and imports.
Mercosur is a good deal for Europe. Also a way to have leverage on sustainability.
EU cannot be fully self sufficient. Let’s also not forget that most economic growth is generated outside the EU.
Need to implement trade agreements better. Lots remain to be done.
Improve market access strategy
Need to be smart and pragmatic, coordinate better with other policies, not look inward.
, University of St. Gallen
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Need to put facts on the table and not only opinions.
EU dependency on pharma and medical goods form China is in fact limited
Governments played a role in disrupting GVCs
More then overdependence the real question is can we have security of supply.
The crisis offers a great opportunity to make the case for openness andshow that international trade help secure supply.
Directorate or unit 
TRADE A/2 
Minutes generated by EMT (Id:TRADE/1776)
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Internal participants 
TRADE  A/2 
@ec.europa.eu) 
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ParticipantRequested for
TRADE  A/2 
@ec.europa.eu) 
ParticipantNotetaker
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Author(s) of minutes 
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Validator and validation date 
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 validated the minutes on 03/02/2021 20:45 
Minutes generated by EMT (Id:TRADE/1776)
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