WTO Members Discuss Role of Trade in Developing Countries’ Response to COVID-19

· United States outlined its support to developing countries in their efforts to respond to COVID-19

· vaccine access and assisting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in dealing with trade barriers and regulations.

· USD 231 million contributed by the United States

· The United Kingdom announced that it has committed GBP 2.1 billion to support global efforts to mitigate the impact of the pandemic

· Japan said it is supporting 77 countries in cold chain development to strengthen vaccinations and has contributed USD 100 million.

· China said it has shared prevention and treatment plans with over 180 countries and international organizations. It has provided 2.2 billion doses of vaccines to over 120 countries.

WTO members discussed how trade is helping developing countries and least-developed countries (LDCs) respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and build resilience to future crises at a meeting of the Committee on Trade and Development on 17 November. They also discussed initiatives aimed at advancing developing countries’ integration into the global trading system, including in electronic commerce. WTO members also reviewed regional trade agreements among developing countries and preferential trade arrangements at separate meetings of the Committee.

Developing countries and COVID-19

In a communication submitted in September, the United States outlined its support to developing countries in their efforts to respond to COVID-19 and to mitigate the effects of future crises. This includes supporting vaccine access and assisting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in dealing with trade barriers and regulations. The Development Committee chair, Ambassador Usha Chandnee Dwarka-Canabady of Mauritius, welcomed the US submission and encouraged other WTO members to submit communications.

The United States said the objective is to use the Committee on Trade and Development to better understand how development partnerships can respond to developing countries' needs, to better support governments' trade policy outcomes, to improve people's welfare and to raise living standards.

Out of a total of USD 231 million contributed by the United States to help developing countries across the world respond to COVID-19, the US invested over USD 76 million to help MSMEs recover from the crisis through skills training and innovation. WTO members heard in particular about the US experience in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in Angola, Senegal and Zambia through its Agency for International Development (USAID).

The US communication builds on the ministerial declaration adopted at the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) on the WTO response to the COVID-19 pandemic and preparedness for future pandemics.

The United Kingdom announced that it has committed GBP 2.1 billion to support global efforts to mitigate the impact of the pandemic, including by distributing vaccines equitably. The European Union said it has shared almost 500 million doses of vaccines, nearly 420 million of which were distributed through COVAX. Japan said it is supporting 77 countries in cold chain development to strengthen vaccinations and has contributed USD 100 million to revitalize economies in the Indo-Pacific region.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic, China said it has shared prevention and treatment plans with over 180 countries and international organizations. It has provided 2.2 billion doses of vaccines to over 120 countries and international organizations and donated anti-pandemic materials to 153 countries and 15 international organizations.

Several developing countries called for the use of WTO tools to help developing countries and least-developed countries overcome difficulties related to economic diversification, economies of scale and industrialization, improve productive capacities and increase their share of world exports.