UNCTAD unveils ten-point action plan to save international trade

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has introduced a ten-point action plan to help industries involved in the movement of goods keep free-flowing trade afloat during the COVID-19 crisis and its aftermath.

As countries adopt radical measures to bring the coronavirus pandemic under control, international trade and transport systems are under tremendous stress.

Early evidence shows that international trade is collapsing, threatening access to goods and critical supplies.

“Trade facilitation is about keeping goods moving, so we must do our utmost to ensure the crisis doesn’t slow the movement of critical supplies,” Shamika Sirimanne, UNCTAD’s director of technology and logistics, pointed out.

“Facilitating trade and the transport of goods has become more important than ever, to avoid logistical obstacles that lead to shortages of necessary supplies.”

As explained, the policy brief presents concrete measures to facilitate transport and trade while protecting people from contracting COVID-19. It echoes an earlier call by UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi to keep ships moving, ports open and cross-border trade flowing during this crisis period.

According to UNCTAD, foundations for recovery from COVID-19 need to be set today. This includes ensuring transport services, ports and border agencies not only remain operational but are also effectively strengthened to cope with the unprecedented challenges they face.

The UN body proposes ten policy measures to cover maritime transport, customs operations, transit, transparency and legal issues, as well as technology to enhance paperless trade processes.

The plan calls for policies that:

• Ensure uninterrupted shipping
• Keep ports open
• Protect international trade of critical goods and speed up customs clearance and trade facilitation
• Facilitate cross-border transport
• Ensure the right of transit
• Safeguard transparency and up-to-date information
• Promote paperless systems
• Address early-on legal implications for commercial parties
• Protect shippers and transport service providers alike
• Prioritize technical assistance

The policy brief calls on governments to ensure health measures are implemented in ports and border crossings in ways that minimize interference with international traffic and trade.

It also emphasizes the need for people involved in the movement of trucks, ships, and planes to be given the status of critical personnel.

Developing countries are said to face particularly challenging conditions. They need enhanced support from the development community, as well as cooperation to keep trade moving.

“Even before COVID-19 struck, many developing countries were already confronted with the challenge of having limited resources to make the necessary investments in transport infrastructure and services, and undertake trade facilitation reforms,” Sirimanne said.

These measures require further investment in human, institutional and technological capacities, and should thus be given priority by development partners, UNCTAD noted.

Soon after lockdown measures commenced throughout the world, UNCTAD issued a set of guidelines and recommendations for customs agencies and port operators to safeguard trade and transport while fighting COVID-19.

“The action plan released today, with its 10 measures is yet another concrete step in support of safeguarding trade and development in times of pandemic,” Sirimanne concluded.