The volume of world merchandise trade is likely to fall precipitously in the first half of 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupts the global economy, according to the WTO Goods Trade Barometer released on 20 May. The index currently stands at 87.6, far below the baseline value of 100, (...)
On 18 May 2020, the WTO Committee on Government Procurement received Brazil’s bid to start negotiations on joining the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA). Brazil said it would circulate the necessary accession documents as soon as the COVID-19 situation allows (...)
Senior business representatives from around the world discussed the role of trade policy in tackling the health and economic implications of the COVID-19 crisis at a virtual Trade Dialogues meeting facilitated by the WTO on 19 May. Over 70 business representatives took part in the meeting, (...)
The contribution of public health policy, intellectual property rules and trade agreements to support the development and dissemination of key health technologies to fight the COVID-19 pandemic will be a special feature of this year’s Trade and Public Health Workshop, scheduled to take place in (...)
At a meeting of the General Council on 15 May, WTO members exchanged views regarding trade responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many members said the unprecedented crisis was best addressed through enhanced cooperation and coordination among the international community, including at the (...)
At a virtual meeting of all WTO members on 14 May, WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo announced that he would step down on 31 August, cutting his second term short by exactly one year. He said that bringing forward his departure would allow members to select his successor in the coming months, (...)
WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo welcomed G20 ministers’ endorsement of collective action measures to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on trade and investment and help foster global economic recovery. The initiatives were endorsed at a virtual meeting of the G20 trade and (...)
The COVID-19 health crisis revealed important gaps in terms of entitlements to protection in case of sickness. Sickness benefits are an important part of social health protection to ensure access to health care and income security.
Food retail and grocery store workers, have become essential to the economy’s survival and to guaranteeing food security and safety for the population. These workers, working in a labour-intensive sector now considered essential, are in many cases low-skilled workers receiving low wages and (...)
Efforts to mitigate the public health emergency of the #COVID-19 pandemic are having an immense impact on the textiles, clothing, leather and footwear industries. Quarantine measures, closure of retail stores, and salary reductions have suppressed consumer demand. At the same time, this highly (...)