WTO Issues Report on Measures to Expedite Access
to COVID-19 Critical Goods, Services
The WTO Secretariat has published a new information note on how
WTO members have used trade measures to expedite access to critical medical goods
and services as part of their responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The note
states that trade has played a role in improving access to COVID-19 critical medical
goods and services since the start of the pandemic. The shortages of medical personal
protective equipment encountered around the world in the early phase of the pandemic
have eased, as production and trade have expanded to meet the unparalleled demand
spike. Initial data for 41 countries indicates trade in medical goods grew by 38.7
per cent in the first half of 2020, the Secretariat said, although sourcing of certain
products remains a challenge for some developing countries.
In addition,
the note describes a wide range of trade-related measures members have employed,
from temporary reductions or deferrals of duties, taxes and charges on COVID-19
critical medical supplies to simplified customs procedures and border clearance.
It looks at intellectual property-related measures members have used to facilitate
innovation in, and access to, COVID-19 related technologies, such as the use of
compulsory or government-use licences, efforts to foster
access to relevant patent databases, and steps to make it easier to exchange clinical
trial data. It also examines how WTO members have acted to facilitate telemedicine
and the international movement of health workers.
The large
majority of measures referred to in the note are a matter of public record through
formal notifications to the WTO, the WTO's trade monitoring report, or its ongoing
COVID-19 related monitoring exercise.
·
The shortages of medical personal protective equipment
(PPE)
encountered around the world in the early phase of the pandemic have eased, as production
and trade have expanded to meet the unparalleled demand spike.
·
Initial data for 41 countries suggests trade in
medical goods grew by 38.7 per cent in the first half of 2020. Certain products
remain subject to periodic shortages, with sourcing a particular challenge for some
developing countries.
·
Political commitments have been made to keep markets
open. The statements made by G20 leaders and
trade ministers have
been buttressed by some 17 other statements and proposals issued
by other WTO members and groups of members.
·
Members are sharing information with the WTO about
their COVID-19 trade measures as notifications and
for inclusion in WTO trade monitoring reports.
Transparency is essential to keep markets open, and is an area in which some members
are calling for further action.
·
Duties, taxes and charges on COVID-19 critical
medical goods and other essential supplies have been temporarily removed or deferred
by 40 WTO members, including 12 G20 members. These actions help reduce the cost
of the goods needed to fight the pandemic, both for the health sector and for the
general public. Measures to reduce or eliminate import tariffs made up around two-thirds
of the import trade-facilitating measures reported to the WTO.
·
Customs procedures and border clearance for COVID-19
critical medical goods have been expedited by cutting back red tape. Actions
taken by members include establishing priority clearance channels, lessening and
simplifying documentary requirements and electronic processing, and improving border
agency cooperation. Expedited transit procedures have also helped
landlocked countries improve their access to essential supplies.
·
Steps have been taken to enhance regulatory approval and
cooperation on standards for traded goods, including measures
to expedite regulatory assessments, recognizing the results of foreign regulators
and allowing remote or electronic conformity assessment procedures.
·
Measures related to intellectual property (IP)
rights are being used to facilitate innovation in and access to COVID‑19 related
technologies. Actions include sharing IP to develop treatments and allow the wider
use of existing technologies, providing free access to relevant patent databases
and COVID-19 specific search facilities, making available reports on COVID‑19
related patents, and facilitating the exchange of clinical trial data. By end July
2020, WTO trade monitoring activities had recorded some 47 COVID-19 related measures
regarding trade-related IP rights taken by 24 members.
·
Access to COVID-19 critical medical services has
been improved. The international movement of health workers has been facilitated,
together with new (temporary) rules on telemedicine.
·
Expedited procurement procedures, including limited
tendering and expedited payments for contractors, are among the government procurement actions
notified by some members.