An assessment of trade policies related to COVID-19

EnglishAmidst the COVID-19 crisis, international trade was particularly important to guarantee the supply of medical and other goods. This article analyses COVID-19 trade-related policies found in the World Trade Organization (WTO) system from February to October 2020. We used the Database of WTO members’ notifications on COVID-19, including information on 198 notifications. It allows us to observe the trend of notifications, countries and products most affected, types of measures, and the adherence to the WTO’s guidelines. Our findings show two waves of notifications. In the first wave, countries acted unilaterally with little regard to multilateral tools. However, in the second wave, characterized by the predominance of tradefacilitating measures, a trend towards multilateral actions is observed through the establishment of “declarations”. Personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical supplies were the most affected products, but agricultural and food products have also been heavily affected. galegoEn medio da crise da COVID-19, o comercio internacional foi especialmente importante para garantir a subministracion de bens medicos e doutro tipo. Este artigo analiza as politicas comerciais, relacionadas coa COVID-19, do sistema de notificacions da Organizacion Mundial do Comercio (OMC) durante o periodo comprendido entre febreiro e outubro de 2020. Utilizamos a base de datos de notificacions sobre a COVID-19 dos paises membros da OMC, que inclue informacion sobre 198 notificacions. Estes datos permitennos observar a tendencia das notificacions, dos paises e dos produtos mais afectados, dos tipos de medidas e da adhesion as directrices da OMC. Os nosos resultados mostran duas vagas de notificacions. Na primeira, os paises actuaron unilateralmente, sen teren en conta as ferramentas multilaterais. Poren, na segunda onda, caracterizada polo predominio de medidas facilitadoras do comercio, observase unha tendencia cara a accions multilaterais a traves do establecemento de “declaracions”. Os equipos de proteccion persoal (EPP) e as subministracions medicas foron os produtos mais afectados, seguidos dos produtos agricolas e dos alimenticios.