The heads of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Customs Organization (WCO) pledged on Monday (06.04.2020) to work together to facilitate trade in essential goods such as medical supplies, food and energy in order to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.
WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo and WCO Secretary-General Kunio Mikuriya said in a joint statement that the The two agencies will work closely together to minimise disruption to cross-border trade in goods, particularly those essential to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, while protecting public health.
"They also committed to establishing a coordinated approach to support initiatives that facilitate cross-border trade so that essential goods can quickly reach those most in need, including least developed and landlocked countries," he said.
As COVID-19 continues to spread globally and governments consider new measures to protect the health and well-being of their citizens, urged members to ensure that any new border action is targeted, proportionate, transparent and non-discriminatory.
“We are also ready to establish a coordinated approach in support of initiatives that facilitate cross-border trade in goods, in particular those key to combating COVID-19. This would allow essential goods to quickly reach those most in need, including at least developed and landlocked countries,” he concluded.
Argentina is a member of both organizations.
WTO, WCO chiefs pledge joint efforts to facilitate trade in essential goods https://t.co/UWUOwYsL8s pic.twitter.com/PWUo6MIIbW
— WTO (@wto) April 6, 2020
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