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Republicans worry Trump is missing the mark on affordability
President Donald Trump’s high-profile economic speech on Tuesday night was meant to alleviate Americans’ concerns about the cost of living. Instead, it mainly appeared to deepen fears within the GOP that he’s not quite getting it.
Oracle shares slide as earnings fail to ease AI bubble fears
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news
Oracle shares slide as earnings fail to ease AI bubble fears
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news
The New WHO Pandemic Treaty and Global Health Governance: Incorporating Common but Differentiated Responsibilities into PABS - Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
On May 20, 2025, the World Health Assembly unanimously adopted the World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Agreement, an international treaty designed to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. The product of three years of arduous negotiations, the treaty marks a new era of global cooperation in public health. However, core aspects of the agreement remain unresolved—notably the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) System, which is intended to ensure equitable access to pandemic-related materials and benefits. To support the successful implementation of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” should be formally incorporated into the negotiating agenda of the PABS annex. Introduction For the first time, an international treaty has enshrined the principle of “One Health,” the compelling idea that the health of animals, humans, and the environment all contribute to pandemic risks. SARS (2003), H1N1 (2009–10), Ebola (2014–16), and COVID-19 all emerged through zoonotic spillover from animal hosts—respectively, civets, hogs, and bats. Together, they underscore the need for a coordinated, cross-sectoral approach. The Pandemic Agreement responds to this call, requiring state parties to acknowledge the ecological interplay and commit to a comprehensive “One Health” strategy. Specifically, Article 5 charges governments to address “the drivers of pandemics and the emergence and re-emergence of infectious disease at the human-animal-environment interface,” including wild animal markets, deforestation, and antibiotic overuse. Yet the effectiveness of this “One Health” vision depends equally on the free flow of scientific information and data among countries and institutions. Just as environmental and animal health factors have been neglected in past global frameworks, so too has data sharing been marginalized, despite its centrality to timely detection and response. The Pandemic Agreement takes an important step by requiring governments to enhance data collection and cooperate with the World Health Organization (WHO). However, these provisions will remain aspirational without a robust Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) annex. The PABS system will determine whether countries and researchers can rapidly exchange pathogen samples and genetic data while ensuring equitable access to resulting research and development, including diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines. Without such mechanisms, the treaty’s promise to operationalize “One Health” and strengthen global preparedness will risk becoming largely symbolic, echoing earlier failures to translate shared principles into coordinated action. Equity Concerns When the 2025 Health Assembly adopted the Pandemic Agreement, it left the difficult question of access to pathogens and the sharing of resulting benefits to be addressed in a separate agreement. Negotiations on this separate agreement, PABS, are now underway in Geneva. Yet governments remain divided over fundamental questions of equity between the countries that primarily contribute to the system and those that primarily draw from it—and consequently benefit. For example, wildlife in countries bordering the equator is likely to produce PABS materials, but companies in Europe are likely to use them to develop lucrative products. The most likely contributor countries are likely to be those biodiverse countries around the equator, such as Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Indonesia, where the number of human-mammalian viral host interactions is large. Conversely, countries most likely to benefit from this material are those with the technology, investors, and infrastructure to capitalize on genomic data, such as the United States, EU member states, and Japan. This imbalance reflects a broader pattern seen in prior international frameworks. Now, as in the past, the wealthiest countries in the world (a useful heuristic is membership of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)) disproportionately benefit from systems in which pathogens and genomic sequencing data are contributed to a common source. Under the International Agreement on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (the “Plant Treaty” or “Seed Treaty”) and the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework, companies from Europe and North America disproportionately withdraw biological samples and data for development into lucrative medical products. Their governments and companies have both statutory and contractual claims to the products that those companies correspondingly produce. PABS appears poised to follow the same pattern. The text calls for strong language on access to pathogens and associated data, but the corresponding benefits that should flow to poorer countries are couched in equivocal or non-binding language. Common but Differentiated Responsibilities To address these inequities, the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” should be formally incorporated into the negotiating agenda of the PABS annex. Common but differentiated responsibilities are often a feature of climate change negotiations. The basic principle is that, even though all countries should reduce carbon emissions, governments that became rich and powerful through massive carbon emissions (e.g., France, the United Kingdom, the United States) should have a greater obligation to address the resulting crises. Applied to PABS, it would require that governments hosting and supporting companies developing lucrative products carry greater obligations toward the cost of running the PABS system; share benefits or final medical products; and transfer technology to help countries worldwide develop their own capacities to innovate and manufacture vaccines during an emergency. For example, an annex could mandate that any company based in an OECD country that withdraws PABS material would be obligated to donate the resulting diagnostics, therapeutics, or vaccines to the WHO during a public health emergency or pandemic. Questions remain about how robust those donations would be, but the principle is that they should deliver highly significant lifesaving benefits to be equitably shared. Theoretically, this approach mirrors the PIP Framework, in which companies withdrawing influenza samples are required to pay half of the operating costs. In practice, however, the framework has fallen short. The PIP Framework Secretariat has struggled to secure payments from companies, with companies often disagreeing over how much is owed. Additionally, without another pandemic influenza to test the strength of the agreement during a public health emergency, corporate compliance with sharing mechanisms remains unknown. Even if these limitations did not characterize the PIP Framework, partially paying for operating expenses does not address the inequity in access to genetic data and pathogen samples that left less developed countries last in line for COVID-19 vaccines (and, before them, H1N1). Common but differentiated responsibilities would go further, addressing governments’ legitimate grievances regarding information sharing. It would make withdrawals of PABS material and resulting products more transparent, building trust across the board. Enforcement and Enduring Success A key implication of this approach is that the governing mechanism of the PABS must have real enforcement authority. The WHO Pandemic Agreement delegates its core governance responsibilities to a Conference of the Parties (COP)—a governing body composed of one representative from each participating government, similar to those established under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The proposed WHO Pandemic Agreement COP is charged with oversight functions but ultimately possesses no real authority to compel a government to take any action it does not wish to take. The text does not give the COP the ability to, for example, sanction a party that does not comply with either textual obligations or PABS provisions. In other words, there are no effective mechanisms in place to ensure compliance. Perhaps just as significant, establishing a meaningful enforcement mechanism within the PABS system would strengthen the WHO’s credibility and its ability to ensure compliance across global health governance. By setting a precedent for accountability, such a mechanism could enhance the organization’s authority not only within the Pandemic Agreement but also in enforcing the revised International Health Regulations and other frameworks for public health emergencies. Conclusion The PABS annex can—and should—be different. It should establish clear responsibilities for funding as well as for sharing the diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines that result from contributions to the system. The system, in turn, must include a dedicated body empowered to hold governments and the corporations they sponsor accountable for their responsibilities before, during, and after pandemics. Doing so would restore trust in the broader agreement, which was eroded as commitments were repeatedly diluted while parties scrambled to meet their own self-imposed deadlines during the Pandemic Agreement negotiations. A robust PABS Annex would cement a grand social bargain. Wealthier countries and their corporations would gain unimpeded access to scientific information essential for developing and manufacturing lifesaving medical products. As such, they would stand to gain considerable economic benefit. Yet that privilege must be matched with responsibility. The grand bargain must include not only the right to innovate, but also the duty to ensure that innovation serves all. As medical products are developed and produced through collective contributions, every person must have equal access. All human beings deserve an equitable chance to survive—to save their own life, the lives of their families, and the well-being of their communities. … Sam Halabi, JD, MPhil, is the Bette Jacobs Endowed Professor at Georgetown University’s School of Health and the Director of the Center for Transformational Health Law at Georgetown Law. He serves as the co-lead for the WHO’s Working Group on Regulatory Consideration on AI and Health’s training workstream. He earned his JD from Harvard, his MPhil from Oxford, and undergraduate degrees from Kansas State University. Lawrence Gostin, LLD (Hon.), JD, BA, is University Distinguished Professor and Founding Director and Timothy and Linda O’Neill Professor of the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law. He is the author of Global Health Security: A Blueprint for the Future (Harvard University Press, 2021); Global Health Law (Harvard University Press, 2014); Public Health Law: Power, Duty, Restraint (University of California Press, 3rd ed., 2016); Public Health Law and Ethics: A Reader (University of California Press, 3rd ed., 2018); Law and the Health System (Foundation Press, 2014); Principles of Mental Health Law & Practice (Oxford University Press, 2010). He also directs the WHO Collaborating Center at Georgetown University. Image Credit: United States Mission Geneva, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
GOP strategist on Trump’s economic message: ‘I’m watching him struggle and it reminds me of the previous administration’
Tulare County Economic Forecast: Cities sprouting business seeds
Editor’s note: The Business Journal published its 2026 Regional Economic Forecast issue on Nov. 28. This is one of those stories. From the grand opening of mom-and-pop shops in the revitalized downtown Tulare region to
Costco stayed out of politics. Then it sued Donald Trump.
Costco's lawsuit against the president's signature economic policy has sowed discord among its unusually loyal membership. Will shoppers defect?
Watch live: Trump holds roundtable with business leaders at White House
President Trump on Wednesday afternoon welcomed business leaders to the White House for a roundtable discussion. The event comes a day after Trump touted his economic agenda in Pennsylvania. It was…
Donald Trump and Elon Musk put science on the chopping block in 2025
The Trump administration has targeted everything from public health to space missions for funding cuts, bringing an end to the longstanding US policy of scientific pursuits as a path towards progress and economic prosperity
Elon Musk’s SpaceX ‘aiming for $1.5tn valuation’ in stock market flotation
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news
Trump defends tariffs as he launches economic tour: 'You can give up certain products. You could give up pencils.'
President Donald Trump is touring swing states to defend his tariffs and sell the message that the economy is booming.
Trump offers farmers $12-billion bailout to offset pain from trade war : The NPR Politics Podcast
President Trump has announced a $12-billion bailout plan for farmers, designed to offset the impacts they have felt from a trade war with China. We discuss how this program fits into Trump’s broader economic policy agenda, and whether it detracts from his message that tariffs will be a boon for the country’s economy.This episode: national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.Please let us know what you think of our show and how we can make it better by filling out this quick survey. As a token of our appreciation, three respondents will be randomly selected to receive a $25 gift card.
Small business optimism rises, but owners say qualified workers are still hard to find
Small business optimism rises despite ongoing labor quality concerns as well as inflation challenges, according to new NFIB data showing mixed economic signals.
Older voters are gaining power. Young people are paying the price.
Seniors’ rising political influence is a threat to economic growth.
Ohio business leaders warn: Adopt AI or fall behind
AI's economic impact was the focus of the ED411 conference in Columbus.
The Fed could cut interest rates tomorrow — here's how it would hit your wallet
Jerome Powell will soon announce the next Fed decision on a potential interest rate cut. The Fed is missing key economic data on jobs and inflation.
Trump accused of ‘colossal economic and national security failure’ for allowing Nvidia to sell powerful AI chips to China
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news
The Times-Picayune to host live forum on New Orleans' future with Moreno, Morrell, more leaders
The panel will explore everything from public safety and economic growth to the city's legislative priorities. You can watch live at 11 a.m.
Outgoing Detroit Mayor Duggan: 'I changed the politics in this city'
Speaking to the Detroit Economic Club, Duggan, who is wrapping up his third and final term in office, said he changed the narrative of "us versus them."
Sustainability Politics Changed, But Corporate Commitment Has Not
Also in the Forbes CEO newsletter: Top execs get more involved with AI, Netflix plans to buy Warner Bros. for $83 billion, economic picture gets complex.
Science, Innovation, and Economic Growth: OpenAI’s Ronnie Chatterji | MIT Sloan Management Review
This Me, Myself, and AI episode features OpenAI economist Ronnie Chatterji with host Sam Ransbotham.
Representation in science and trust in scientists in the USA
Nature Human Behaviour - Druckman et al. document gaps in trust in scientists in the USA. People from groups less represented among scientists (for example, women and those with lower economic...
As Congress fights over ACA subsidies, economist argues for expanding care
Craig Garthwaite, Director of the Program on Healthcare at Northwestern University and co-author of a new paper from the Aspen Economic Strategy Group, talks about reforms that could make healthcare cheaper and more efficient.
Interfaith Leaders Rally To Bring Business Back To 26th Street After Federal Immigration Crackdown
The city's second busiest economic corridor saw 60-80 percent declines in business during the Trump administration's Operation Midway Blitz, local leaders said.
Trump Is Repeating One of Biden’s Big Mistakes
Downplaying voters’ economic pain will backfire.
Sick in a Hospital Town
The story of Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital — the dominant political and economic institution of Albany, Georgia — is the story of American health care.
Quad Cities business leaders hear economic forecast, challenges ahead
Budget hearings day 4: Business Council in the hot seat, state prisoners and more
The Wyoming Business Council faced scrutiny from state Freedom Caucus lawmakers who were skeptical of the economic development agency and its budget goals.
Trump Says Europe Risks Being Wiped Away Unless Societies Change
The Trump administration said that European civilization is at risk of “erasure” as a result of decades of economic decline, political censorship and immigration.
CVS Health generates over $474 Billion in 2024 U.S. economic impact, supporting communities throughout the United States
New report highlights the company’s role as a top U.S. employer, investing in improving health and supporting local communities
Discord launches ‘Checkpoint 2025’: A full-year recap feature for users; here’s how to see your Discord wrapped
Discord Checkpoint 2025: Discord has released its first yearly activity summary, Discord Checkpoint 2025. Users can now see their message counts, voice channel hours, top emojis, most active servers, and frequent DM friends. Exclusive avatar decorations are also available. The feature is rolling out gradually and requires the latest app version.
Speaker Johnson's ever-growing headaches: From the Politics Desk
Plus, Trump plans a visit to Pennsylvania amid growing economic concerns. And an exclusive interview with Vance.
Americans under 30 are ‘under profound strain’ and deeply mistrust institutions, poll finds
Young Americans are “a generation under profound strain” with little confidence in institutions and widespread economic concerns, according to a Harvard Institute of Politics survey of adults younger than 30 released Thursday.
Watch live: House Democrats target Trump over health care, affordability
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee are holding a hearing Thursday morning on President Trump’s economic agenda: From rising health care pre…
Small businesses lead November job losses as tariff uncertainty weighs on hiring
Small businesses lost 120,000 jobs in November amid heightened economic uncertainty over tariffs and outpaced job gains at larger firms, according to the latest ADP employment report.
UK power grid’s £28bn upgrade approved to drive energy transition
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news
Black women federal unemployment surges. Could the change be long term?
With the Trump administration's cuts to diversity programs and the federal workforce, it may be even more difficult for Black women to recover when economic conditions improve.
Nominate a Small Business for the Crowns of Enterprise Awards
2026 marks the 15th year that the Crowns of Enterprise Awards will recognize the hard work of small businesses and the economic impact they have on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. The winners will be named during an awards ceremony in May 2026.
Thames Water profits surge on higher bills; Prada buys Versace for $1.4bn
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news
City, business leaders launch vision for Madison’s downtown future
MADISON, Wis. -- The City of Madison is beginning work on its new Downtown Area Plan in conjunction with Downtown Madison Inc.’s Greater Downtown Economic Investment Strategy as part of
Trump says Americans may soon pay ‘no income tax’ as White House explores alternative revenue streams
President Trump proposes eliminating income tax entirely, suggesting tariff revenue could replace traditional taxation in ambitious economic overhaul plan.
Oregon’s governor unveils a ‘roadmap’ to business prosperity. Here’s what’s at stake
The blueprint comes as Oregon faces sluggish population growth, high housing costs and other faltering economic indicators.
Charlotte business leaders predict stronger economic growth in 2026
The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance held its annual forecast luncheon in Charlotte on Tuesday.
Business Trades Support Bank Capital Rule Reform to Boost Economic Growth
“Now is the time to modernize our capital framework to unleash economic growth for American businesses and consumers across the country.” WASHINGTON, D.C. — A coalition of leading business trade organizations urged prudential regulators to examine and modernize large bank capital requirements to ensure they support consumers, businesses, and the…
Kemp, state officials head to Panama for business development mission
Port Authority and Economic Development staff accompanied the governor and first lady to Panama.
Economic warning sign: Holiday jobs are tougher to find
Holiday shopping will be missing something this year – as much seasonal help in stores to help shoppers as normal.
AI valuations heighten risk of ‘sharp correction’ in stock markets, Bank of England warns
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as the Bank of England releases its Financial Stability Report
Congress begins final session of 2025 with healthcare (and a dash of AI policy) on the docket
At the top of lawmakers' economic agenda is a promised vote on healthcare left over from the 43-day shutdown fight. Also being debated are two limited AI measures that have a last chance for action in 2025.
Powering Brazil's Transition to Zero-Emission Trucking: Improving Air Quality, Public Health and the Economy with Coordinated Efforts
The electrification of Brazil’s heavy-duty trucking sector represents a critical opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, improve air quality, and enhance public health. While Brazil’s long-standing reliance on biofuels has leveraged domestic resources and infrastructure, this strategy is best viewed as a transitional measure that may not fully meet the country’s long-term climate and economic objectives.
Rethinking statistical significance
From medicine to economics, significance testing misleads. Estimation offers a clearer way forward.
Renewable energy is now more than ever a strategic business imperative
The global transition to renewable energy has fundamentally shifted from a moral obligation focused on mitigating climate change to a central pillar of economic strategy and national security.
UK economic growth forecast to slow next year as unemployment rises
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news
Buc-ee's political and economic impact front and center as travel center set to break ground in WI
"UPFRONT" travels to the nearest Buc-ee's in Kentucky to explore the looming impact.
Trump administration science assault slams major Bay Area economic engine, threatens ‘amazing innovations’
Investors and young scientists are pulling back from biotech, amid broader attacks on science under Trump, industry representatives said.
Trump administration science assault slams major Bay Area economic engine, threatens ‘amazing innovations’
Investors and young scientists are pulling back from biotech, amid broader attacks on science under Trump, industry representatives said.
Sponsored: The Science-Backed Compromise That Protects Louisiana’s Coast and Its Menhaden Industry
Louisiana’s coast has always demanded balance. Our working waters support thousands of families and drive more than $419 million in annual economic output. At the same time, our state is