G/C/W/788  
 
20 November 2020  
(20-8381) Page: 1/2 
Council for Trade in Goods  Original: English  
 
 
COVID -19: MEASURES RELATED TO TRADE IN GOODS  
COMMUNICATION FROM CANADA; COLOMBIA; COSTA RICA; HONG KONG, CHINA;  
NEW ZEALAND; NORWAY; SINGAPORE; AND SWITZERLAND  
The following communication, dated 19  November  2020, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegations of Canada; Colombia; Costa Rica; Hong Kong, China;  New Zealand; Norway; Singapore; 
and Switzerland . 
 
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Despite global efforts over the past months in combatting the COVID -19 pandem ic, it is quite clear 
that we all have to live under the ongoing threat and impact of COVID -19 in the near future. An 
effective adjustment to the new normal and a solid foundation for recovery will be needed. Through 
safeguarding the rules -based multilater al trading system, regular bodies in the WTO play an 
essential role in international cooperation to fight the pandemic.  
 
Much work has been done to enhance the transparency of trade -related measures taken in the 
context of the COVID -19 crisis over the past  several months, including with respect to trade in 
goods. This includes the compilation or tracking of trade -related measures taken in the context of 
the COVID -19 crisis on the WTO  website and the trade policy monitoring reports, as well as 
discussion by various committees. In some WTO  committees, Members have benefited from other 
Members ' sharing of experience in responding to the global pandemic. Notified measures have also 
been reviewed by relevant WTO  committees as part of their regular work.  
 
In line with its mandate, the CTG should be a platform for Members to discuss trade -related 
measures taken in the context of the COVID -19 crisis in a systematic manner. Without duplicating 
the efforts of other WTO  bodies, and without adding any new notification ob ligation to Members, the 
November  2020 CTG  meeting could reflect on the significant information already on hand, identify 
trends and to build on the ongoing work of subsidiary bodies. This would facilitate a coherent and 
concerted approach in alleviating t he impact of the pandemic on the international trade in goods.  
 
At this meeting, we hope to draw Members' attention to the overall picture of implementation of 
COVID -19 related measures and initiatives. In particular, the following observations and questio ns 
may be relevant for discussion:  
 
(a) Among the more than 250  measures related to trade in goods as at early October, more 
than 130 have indicated an expiry date. While about 100 of these measures have their 
effective dates expired, not all of them are indicated to have been terminated – are all 
the expired measures terminated?  
 
(b) Among the measures with an expiry date, more than 50  measures were related to trade 
facilitation or trade liberalization , most of them have expired – has their continuati on 
been considered?  
 
(c) About 25% of the 250  measures are notified, hence would be discussed at relevant 
committees. For the remaining ones, what would be the possible avenues to keep track 
of them?  
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  (d) Are there good practices in CTG  subsidiary committe es in monitoring the measures, 
which could be considered by other committees? Have discussion in committees shed 
light on whether the measures are implemented in a transparent, targeted, temporary 
and proportionate way?  
 
(e) Could the CTG or the subsidiary  bodies take advantage of relevant information and 
collaborate with other International Organizations?  
 
(f) With an overview on the work of subsidiary bodies, would the CTG be able to further 
analyse the trend and monitor overall implementation of measures  related to trade in 
goods?  
 
(g) Would it be useful for the conclusions or analysis held in the committees to be published 
in the dedicated COVID -19 website of the WTO?  
 
(h) Is it possible to identify good practices and lessons learned that could be used by 
WTO Members or the Secretariat in the future?  
 
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