International Trade in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

This chapter overviews the relationship between international trade and the WTO law, international trade strategy, as well as labour standards, human rights, and the public health in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. It is stated that the most effective way to overcome the crisis is timely and effective information-sharing since informed community can make better decisions on trade issues. The urgency of effective measures and implementation of new WTO regulations are believed to be vital for providing fair trade in the present circumstances. The right trade policies would not only revive the trade and recover the time lost to the crisis but would also shift toward a more sustainable and inclusive future. The author claims that, in view of the pandemic, the efforts of policymakers and business leaders to find ways to achieve trade balance should imply greater coherency between trade, labour standards, public health, and human rights objectives.