Social media lit up after last week's World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial conference in Geneva, where 164 WTO members gathered for the first time in five years, negotiating decisions on COVID-19 vaccine production, food security, fisheries subsidies, and WTO reform. Although expert reaction was divided, the conference "delivered outcomes that reflect a recognition of the shared global challenges," says Inu Manak, Council on Foreign Relations fellow for trade policy, who writes about the WTO deals on food crises and ensuring the sustainability of fish stocks. A second WTO-related commentary argues that the agreement on a nominal waiver on COVID-19 vaccine patents "will go some way to ensuring equitable access."
On a separate front, Polish women are expressing concern that a new pregnancy registry could be a wolf in sheep's clothing—giving the government too much access to women's private health information, data that could also help track and potentially prosecute those who have abortions.
We also interview an outbreak-tracking expert about monkeypox transmission. And another set of writers examines why Sriracha hot sauce and hand-sanitizer shortages have captured the U.S. public's attention, while a year-long tampon shortage has flown under the radar.
As always, thank you for reading, and be well. —Thomas J. Bollyky and Mary Brophy Marcus, Editors
