��International Trade and Health Conference 2021�Future International Trade and Health: Post COVID-19 Pandemic�26 November 2021����Global Cooperation:�WTO Initiatives and Activities����Roger Kampf, WTO Secretariat
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Global Trade / Economy
Region | Exports | Imports |
North America | 8.0% | 11.9% |
South America | 4.8% | 10.8% |
Europe | 7.8% | 9.4% |
CIS | 6.2% | 5.7% |
Africa | 1.9% | 8.2% |
Middle East | 2.9% | 5.4% |
Asia | 18.8% | 14.2% |
Diverse recoveries in trade volumes across regions, reflecting divergent economic recovery
Trade in Medical Goods (Imports & Exports)
2020 (compared to 2019) | First half 2021 |
US$ 2,343 billion | US$ 1,286 billion |
16% growth Note: total value of world merchandise trade contracted by 7.6% in same period | 12.4% growth |
Medical goods and agricultural products performed�relatively well in 2020
How to Revitalize Global Trade / Economic Recovery
«Keeping international markets open will be essential for economies to recover from the crisis and a rapid, global and equitable vaccine roll-out is a prerequisite for the strong and sustained recovery we all need»
«Keeping trade in health technologies as open and predictable as possible is therefore of vital interest. This will help countries to respond to this crisis, to recover from it and to build the health systems that will foster greater resilience in the future. (…)
But any measure taken to promote public health that restricts trade should be “targeted, proportionate, transparent and temporary”, consistent with recent calls from world leaders.»
Challenges Arising from COVID-19
How to Address Those Challenges:�A High-Level Response (1)
«The rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 in 2020 and the high proportion of cases requiring medical care led to an unparalleled surge in demand for certain medicines, medical devices and medical consumables. We recognize the urgent need to address vulnerabilities and to eliminate WTO-inconsistent barriers that jeopardize the effective operation of the supply chains for essential medical goods, which have been exposed by the pandemic, and we highlight the need to strengthen their resilience to respond to future emergencies. It is important to promote open, resilient, diversified, secure, efficient and reliable global supply chains across the whole value chain related to health, and that trade, procurement and public health policies are transparent in order to facilitate the smooth flow of these goods. By also acknowledging the importance of avoiding undue impediments to the supply of medical countermeasures, G20 members should promote international collaboration, including with the support of relevant IOs and other stakeholders, to identify and address vulnerabilities as well as enhance resilience and rapid scalability of the supply chain at a global level in a coordinated manner, and support expanding local and regional health goods manufacturing capacities.»
How to Address Those Challenges:�A High-Level Response (2)
We will reinforce global strategies to support research and development as well as to ensure their by expanding and diversifying global vaccine manufacturing capacity at local and regional level, while promoting vaccine acceptance, confidence and fighting disinformation. To this end, we commit to refrain from WTO inconsistent export restrictions and to increase transparency and predictability in the delivery of vaccines. We reiterate our support to all pillars of the ACT-Accelerator, including COVAX, and will continue to improve its effectiveness. We support the extension of ACT-A’s mandate throughout 2022 and acknowledge the formation of the Multilateral Leaders Task Force on COVID-19. We welcome the work undertaken by the COVAX ACT-A Facilitation Council Vaccine Manufacturing Working Group and its report aimed at creating a broader base for vaccine manufacturing. In particular, we will support increasing vaccine distribution, administration and local manufacturing capacity in LMICs, including through technology transfer hubs in various regions, such as the newly established mRNA Hubs in South Africa, Brazil and Argentina, and through joint production and processing arrangements. (…) we commit to substantially increase the provision of and access to vaccines, as well as to therapeutics and diagnostics. (…)
How to Address Those Challenges:�A High-Level Response (3)
The Task Force stressed that if the 40% coverage threshold is to be reached in all countries by end 2021, the following actions need to be taken immediately by governments and vaccine manufacturers:
WTO Secretariat Contribution to Respond to COVID-19 Pandemic (1): Immediate Contributions
for more information
Contract Production
Production through technology transfer
Source: UNICEF Dashboard
Licensing and Technology Transfer:
a Dynamic Evolutioin
Significance of Contracted Production
WTO Secretariat Contribution to Respond to COVID-19 Pandemic (2): Engagement with IOs and Key Stakeholders
Selected Collabortative Initiatives with WTO involvement
WHO-WIPO-WTO Cooperation
integrated approach
Innovation, 2nd edition 2020, includng COVID-19 extract
WHO: Pandemic Preparedness�and Response
an international instrument or other tool
Work on Trade and Health at the WTO
Ministerial Conference / General Council
GC Facilitator Consultations
TRIPS Council
Reports
Reports
Pulling the relevant policy dimensions together: Intersections between health, IP and trade
Source: WHO-WIPO-WTO Study on Access to Medical Technologies and Innovation, 2nd edition, 2020
To be effectively dealt with at different levels
To involve a wide range of actors