On this point, it is really noticeable that EU politicians are targeting the UK here more than the US - by far the worse culprit on vaccine nationalism.
Commission spokesman just asked if they've received any reassurances from Biden admin that ban will end. He wouldn't comment.
Asked about the German MEPs saying Commission is treating Biden with kid gloves on vaccines (and about the brewing problem over access to Johnson & Johnson doses), the spokesman points to the EU's new transparency mechanism.
"That in itself is a very strong signal" he says.
There is worry a J&J proxy war between 🇺🇸&🇪🇺 could start, similar to AZ proxy war between 🇬🇧&🇪🇺.
We hear J&J won't be ready to start delivering vaccines to EU after approval tomorrow, and maybe not until May.
EC won't say whether they've received guarantees for J&J Q2 delivery.
Particular worry on J&J insistence doses made in EU be shipped across Atlantic to US for finishing before being sent back. Will they get caught in US export ban?
Liese says he's had no explanation from J&J about why this is necessary when there's a finishing plant in Germany.
Liese says Johnson & Johnson should be very concerned about getting to a situation where their behaviour leads to similar reputational damage in the EU that AstraZeneca is experiencing now.
Unlike other pharma, they're a well-liked consumer-facing company
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