FT News Briefing Merkel opposes US move to waive vaccine IP, the drive behind the commodity supercycle
May 7, 2021
Katie Martin, the Markets editor at the Financial Times, discusses Angela Merkel's opposition to waiving vaccine patent rights, emphasizing the importance of production capacity. She dives into the ongoing commodity supercycle, driven by increased global demand and economic recovery. Martin explains how rising commodity prices are impacting inflation and whether these shifts suggest lasting changes. The conversation also touches on important investment trends, highlighting Norway's Telenor and their strategy in Myanmar amidst challenging circumstances.
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Merkel Opposes Vaccine IP Waiver
- Angela Merkel opposes waiving intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines.
- She believes production capacity and quality standards, not patents, are the real issue.
Telenor's Myanmar Write-off
- Telenor wrote off its $782m Myanmar investment after the coup but remains.
- Internet shutdowns and economic slump are impacting business, causing other companies to "hibernate."
Commodity Supercycle Concerns
- Soaring commodity prices, driven by Chinese demand and green initiatives, fuel "supercycle" talks.
- This broad surge may lead to inflation and force central bank intervention.