Pfizer Urges EU Not to Block UK Vaccine Exports

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[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Pfizer has warned the European Union (EU) not to block exports of COVID-19 vaccines to the United Kingdom. Pfizer’s European factories import key components of the vaccine from the UK, and if the EU blocks vaccine exports, the UK might retaliate by not exporting these components.

On the 20th (local time), the Telegraph reported that Pfizer and BioNTech recently conveyed these concerns to the EU.

According to the report, since November last year, Pfizer has been importing essential lipid components needed for vaccine production from the chemical company 'Croda International' located in the Yorkshire region of the UK. Croda International is one of the few companies worldwide capable of producing this component, and at that time, Pfizer signed a five-year supply contract with them.

A source said Pfizer heavily depends on the UK for the supply of lipid components and told the EU Commission, "If the UK blocks exports, the vaccine production process itself will stop within weeks." Since Europe is already facing difficulties securing vaccines, provoking the UK to retaliate could make vaccine production even more challenging.

Pfizer’s warning came amid escalating conflicts between the EU and the UK over the supply of AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccines.

The EU claims that the UK is not supplying AZ vaccines produced domestically to the EU quickly enough, while the UK denies ever blocking vaccine exports. On the 17th, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, warned that the UK could block vaccine exports.

President von der Leyen criticized, "Vaccines produced in the EU are going to other vaccine-producing countries, but nothing is coming back to us, and it is difficult to explain this situation to our citizens."

In response, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said, "Honestly, it is surprising to have this kind of conversation. Normally, less democratic countries use brinkmanship tactics, and the UK and Europe team up to oppose them."

However, a senior UK government official told the Telegraph that the likelihood of the UK blocking exports to Europe as retaliation is low. After Brexit, the UK needs to attract foreign companies’ production facilities investments, and such measures would be harmful in the long term.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.