Articles by Francesco Guarascio, Phuong Nguyen and Khanh Vu

Factories in Vietnam’s Export Hubs May Face Weeks of Disruption After Typhoon Yagi

Typhoon Yagi caused severe damage to many factories and flooded warehouses in northern Vietnam’s export-oriented industrial hubs, with some shuttered plants expected to need weeks to return to full operation, executives said. Asia’s strongest typhoon this year was still causing …

Medical Gear Deliveries to Russia Hit by Sanctions-Related Insurance, Transport Hurdles

Exports of essential medical devices Russia is dependent upon from the West have been partly restored, reducing the immediate risk of life-threatening shortages after a near-total collapse when the war in Ukraine began, a Western industry source told Reuters. Russia …

Millions of Migrants Can’t Get COVID Vaccines Because of Drugmakers’ Liability Fears

BRUSSELS/BANGKOK – Tens of millions of migrants may be denied COVID-19 vaccines from a global program because some major manufacturers are worried about legal risks from harmful side effects, according to officials and internal documents from Gavi, the charity operating …

European Union Weighs Emergency Approvals for COVID Vaccines

The European Commission said on Tuesday that it was considering emergency approvals for COVID-19 vaccines as a faster alternative to more rigorous conditional marketing authorisations which have been used so far. The move would mark a big shift in approach …

Brexit Trade Negotiations Make Progress but Success Still Isn’t Certain: EU Chief

BRUSSELS – Britain and the European Union have moved closer to sealing a new trade deal but it was still unclear if they would succeed, the bloc’s chief executive said on Wednesday. Britain and the EU are in the final …

WHO to Form COVID Insurance Scheme for Vaccine Side-Effects in Poor Nations

BRUSSELS – A vaccine scheme co-led by the World Health Organization is setting up a compensation fund for people in poor nations who might suffer any side-effects from COVID-19 vaccines, aiming to allay fears that could hamper a global rollout …

Lack of Clarity on Liability Could Cause Delay with WHO Coronavirus Vaccine Drive

BRUSSELS – Who foots the bill if people in poor countries fall sick with unexpected side-effects from coronavirus vaccines? It’s not clear and that’s a big problem in the battle to beat COVID-19. The World Health Organization (WHO) has so …

EU Strikes Low-Cost Deal With AstraZeneca to Pay COVID-19 Vaccine Claims

European governments will pay claims above an agreed limit against AstraZeneca over side-effects from its potential COVID-19 vaccine, under different terms to a deal struck with Sanofi, an EU official told Reuters. The deals reflect different strategies by two of …

COVID-19 Vaccine Makers Expect EU Liability Shield for Unexpected Side-Effects

Vaccine makers will be indemnified in Europe if their COVID-19 shots cause unexpected side-effects, an industry official said on Tuesday, as nearly 40 firms pursue talks on possible authorisation for shots in development. The European Commission has confidential liability clauses …

Limited Liability Protection for Drugmakers Hampers EU Coronavirus Vaccine Deals

The European Union is offering only partial protection to vaccine makers against legal risks from side-effects of their potential COVID-19 shots, European officials said, in a move that is hampering deals and contrasts with U.S. policy. With vaccines being developed …