Washington: The United States on Friday formally rejected changes to the World Health Organization's (WHO) pandemic response rules, with President Donald Trump's administration saying the measures violated national sovereignty. The decision comes months after Trump began the process of withdrawing the US from the UN health body upon returning to office in January. Despite the withdrawal, the State Department said language in reforms adopted last year would have remained binding on the United States.
According to Qatar News Agency, in a joint statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy said the amendments "risk unwarranted interference with our national sovereign right to make health policy." They emphasized their commitment to prioritizing Americans' interests and rejecting international policies that could infringe on Americans' rights.
The two ministers announced the United States' withdrawal from a series of amendments to the International Health Regulations, which provide a legal framework for combating epidemics. These amendments were adopted last year after the Assembly failed to achieve a more ambitious goal of reaching a new global agreement on epidemics. The amendments included commitments to solidarity and equity, particularly through forming a new group to address the needs of developing countries in future emergencies.
The ongoing negotiations for the agreement had faced significant criticism, primarily from conservative voices in the United States, Britain, and other countries. Critics question global efforts to combat diseases and vaccines, fearing potential overreach. The United States, under former President Joe Biden, had participated in these negotiations but failed to secure consensus on safeguarding American intellectual property rights in vaccine development.
It is worth noting that after returning to the presidency on January 20, Donald Trump immediately began withdrawing his country from the UN body. However, the State Department indicated that the changes adopted last year would have continued to bind the United States.