trade topics
COVID-19 and world trade
The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating health and economic consequences, with unprecedented disruption to people's lives, the global economy and world trade. One of the most effective means of addressing this crisis is through timely, accurate information. An informed public is better positioned to make sound decisions including on questions related to trade. This is why we have created this dedicated portal. It provides up-to-the minute trade-related information including notifications by WTO members, the impact the virus has had on exports and imports and how the multilateral trading system has responded to the pandemic.
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On this page:
- Latest news
- WTO-IMF COVID-19 Vaccine Trade Tracker
- Trade forecast
- FAQs
- WTO reports
- Sector-specific studies
- Information-sharing sessions
- Multilateral Leaders' Task Force
- Trade and trade-related measures
- Support measures
- WTO members' proposals
- Enquiry points
- WTO members' notifications
- Business/civil society response
- Support for open trade
- Useful links
See also:
Latest news
WTO-IMF COVID-19 Vaccine Trade Tracker
The WTO-IMF Vaccine Trade Tracker provides data on the trade and supply of COVID-19 vaccines by product, economy and arrangement type. The tracker builds on the work of the WTO Secretariat information notes on COVID-19 and world trade and the IMF Staff Discussion Note – A Proposal to End the COVID-19 Pandemic. Updates are provided every month to reflect latest developments.
Trade forecast 2022-23
Frequently asked questions: The WTO and COVID-19
WTO reports on COVID-19 and world trade
More reportsSector-specific studies
Information-sharing sessions
- 11 February 2022: Workshop looks into practical aspects of supporting equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines
- 9 Nov 2021: International organizations, vaccine manufacturers take stock of COVID-19 vaccine roll out, share views for 2022
- 12 Oct 2021: WTO briefs members and observers on COVID-19 related initiatives and analysis
- 29 Jun 2021: WTO technical symposium feeds into continuing efforts to deal with COVID-19 pandemic
- 9 Mar 2021: DG calls on COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers to increase production in developing countries
Multilateral Leaders' Task Force on COVID-19
A global effort to help developing countries access and deliver COVID-19 vaccines, testing, and therapeutics, as they work to end the pandemic and boost economic recovery.
COVID-19: Trade and trade-related measures
COVID-19: Support measures
The table below lists the support measures taken by WTO members and observers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These measures have been submitted by delegations directly to the WTO Trade Monitoring Section in response to the requests by the Director-General in March 2020 and by Deputy Director-General Agah in September 2020. The list only includes measures communicated by members and observers and features measures only in the original language of the submission. The list is an informal situation report and an attempt to provide transparency with respect to support measures taken in the context of the COVID-19 crisis.
WTO members' proposals on COVID-19
Latest proposal
Enquiry points
In many areas of trade, WTO members are required to establish or maintain one or more “Enquiry Points” to answer reasonable enquiries of governments, traders and other interested parties and provide relevant documents and information. In emergency situations, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, access to information on product requirements and certification procedures can be crucial, as it can minimize or avoid delays or rejections at customs points.
WTO members' notifications on COVID-19
As of , WTO members had submitted a total of related to COVID-19.
Inventory of COVID-19 information resources
A list of COVID-19 information resources managed by international organizations, non-governmental organizations, academics and the private sector that has been compiled by the WTO Secretariat.
Useful links
- Agricultural Market Information System
- Consumers International COVID-19
- Enhanced Integrated Framework: COVID-19 and LDCs
- ESCAP-UNCTAD-WTO: “Readying regional trade agreements for future crises and pandemics”
- FAO COVID-19
- IATA database of government measures
- ICAO/WCO: Joint statement on global transportation and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and associated medical supplies
- IFPRI Food Export Restrictions Tracker
- ILO COVID-19 and the world of work
- Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture COVID-19
- International Civil Aviation Organization COVID-19 airport status
- International Food Policy Research Institute COVID-19
- International Fund for Agricultural Development COVID-19
- International Grains Council (IGC)
- International Road Transport Union COVID-19
- International Trade Centre: COVID-19 and small businesses
- INTERPOL: fake medicines
- IMF COVID-19
- Logistics Cluster COVID-19: cargo entry points
- OECD COVID-19
- Standards and Trade Development Facility COVID-19
- Trade Facilitation Resource Repository COVID-19
- UN Initiative on Model Provisions for Trade in Times of Crisis
- UNCTAD COVID-19
- UNICEF news and updates on COVID-19
- United Nations COVID-19
- United Nations Economic Commission for Africa COVID-19
- WCO-WHO revised classification for COVID-19 medical supplies
- WHO COVID-19 pandemic
- World Bank COVID-19
- World Customs Organization COVID-19
- World Economic Forum Covid Action Platform
- World Food Programme COVID-19
- World Intellectual Property Organization COVID-19
- World Organisation for Animal Health COVID-19
- World Tourism Organization COVID-19
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Trade and health: WTO response to COVID-19
Videos
WTO Trade Barometers
The WTO has developed a set of indicators to provide “real-time” information on trends in world trade: the Goods Trade Barometer and the Services Trade Barometer. Both barometers highlight turning points in world trade and are intended to complement conventional trade statistics and forecasts.
Sign up to ePing to receive daily email alerts on evolving product requirements and procedures in response to COVID-19
Global business/ civil society response to COVID-19
- Statement by ALLEA (European Federation of Academies of Sciences and Humanities) on vaccination bottlenecks in the global south and a patent waiver for COVID-19 vaccines
- Civil society open letter to the Chair of the TRIPS Council
- A joint declaration on the importance of IPRs to Covid vaccine manufacturing scale-up and future pandemic preparedness
Maintaining open trade
Throughout the pandemic, the WTO rules have kept global trade flowing and fostered transparency on measures taken by countries to respond to the crisis. … The pandemic has placed tremendous strain on peoples’ health and livelihoods around the world. The WTO can show that it is capable of effectively addressing a global challenge like COVID-19, and helping the world build back better. 
Ambassador Katherine Tai, US Trade Representative
14 October 2021
The WTO remains the most important forum for creating modern trade rules, providing transparency for government actions that promote and hinder trade, and resolving disputes between Member States. … Updating the WTO’s “operating system”, meaningfully dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and broader public health issues, creating trade rules to promote environmental sustainability, updating the “rulebook” to take account of the modern digital economy, as well as making trade as inclusive as possible would not only serve business interests but also broader expectations from citizens and civil society.
International Chamber of Commerce
29 September 2021
Trade Facilitation and COVID-19: Report on Survey Results
This report compiles the findings of the joint COVID-19 survey carried out by TFAF, ICC and the Alliance.
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