France has joined the United States in supporting an easing of patent and other protections on Covid-19 vaccines that could help poorer countries get more doses and speed the end of the pandemic. While the backing from two countries with major drug makers is important, many obstacles remain.

Any single country could block a decision at the World Trade Organisation, a Geneva-based trade body of 164 member states, to agree to a waiver.

The EU Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, also said the 27-nation bloc was ready to talk about the US proposal — but cagily remained noncommittal for now.

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