G-20 Ministers Urge Against Export Restrictions During Pandemic

G-20 trade ministers said export restrictions imposed due to the pandemic should “not create unnecessary barriers” and urged countries to refrain from restricting exports of food, according to a May 14 joint statement. In the statement, the ministers reaffirmed their commitment to mitigate pandemic impacts on trade and investment and called for more actions to help with the global recovery, including proposed measures to support trade regulations, facilitation, transparency, logistics and more. Minimal export restrictions will help “build resilience in global supply chains,” the ministers said, adding that the G-20 should support World Trade Organization reform, share best practices for border restrictions and create a “non-discriminatory, transparent, predictable and stable trade” environment.