Thread by @EmpireinWinter

'The report outlines how Pfizer consistently utilizes six tactics to leverage power against governments worldwide.

First, Pfizer silences governments through the use of nondisclosure provisions in many of its contracts....' 1/n

citizen.org/news/report-ho…

'Second, Pfizer can disallow governments from accepting additional donations of the Pfizer vaccine. ' 2/n

'Third, Pfizer exempts itself from liability for intellectual property infringements, shifting the financial risk of Pfizer’s actions to government purchasers – despite Pfizer’s opposition to similar exemptions for manufacturers proposed at the World Trade Organization. ' 3/n

'Fourth, it gives the power to secret private arbitrators, not public courts, to decide issues on contract disputes. '

'Fifth, Pfizer requires some countries to waive sovereign immunity, so it can go after state assets in case of a dispute. '

'Finally, Pfizer gives itself sole power when it comes to making key decisions, including how vaccine deliveries will be prioritized if there is a supply shortage.'

If these are general strategies, they are buttressed by the secrecy & redactions around the exact contract terms, inaccessible even to elected reps of the EU.

'"Pfizer wields its power to extract a series of concerning concessions from governments,” said Zain Rizvi, law & policy researcher at Public Citizen’s Access to Medicines program.... “The global community cannot allow pharmaceutical corporations to keep calling the shots.” '