Exclusive: WTO chief says vaccine answer close, but facing effort to block it

FILE PHOTO: World Trade Organization (WTO) director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala attends the opening session of the WTO Public Forum in Geneva, September 28, 2021. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The World Trade Organization is close to resolving a dispute over how to spread COVID-19 vaccines more widely and fairly, but facing an "orchestrated effort" to block a deal, the body's chief said on Thursday.

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told Reuters she had held talks this month with trade ministers from India, South Africa, the European Union and the United States on how to break an impasse over the issue of intellectual property rights.