WT/GC/219  
TN/C/20  
 
25 June 2020  
(20-4430) Page: 1/4 
General Council  
Trade Negotiations Committee  Original: English  
 
 
AFRICA N GROUP STATEMENT ON THE IMPLICATIONS OF COVID -19 
The following statement, dated 24 June 2020, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of 
Botswana on behalf of the African Group.  
 
_______________  
 
 
1.1.  COVID -19 is an unprecedented crisis of our time - the worst global health crisis in 100 years. 
It threatens to disproportionately affect developing and least developed countries, and Small Island 
Developing States not only as a health crisis in the short term but also as  a devastating social and 
economic crisis in the foreseeable future . 
1.2.  Initial ECA estimates suggest Africa will face an immediate decline in GDP growth from 3.2% 
to 1.8% in 2020 as a result of COVID -19, but with a further adverse impact if COVID -19 is not 
contained in the short -term. The downward growth revision in 2020 reflects macroeconomic risks 
arising from the sharp decline in output growth among the region 's key trading partners, the fall in 
commodity prices, reduced tourism activity in several countri es, as well as the effects of measures 
to contain the COVID -19 global pandemic. A recent publication by the UN stipulated that initial 
estimates indicate that Africa maybe in its first recession in the last 25 years, and the World Bank 
estimates suggest th at the number of people who could be pushed into extreme poverty in 2020 
may reach as high as about 49 million people, with around half of this increase occurring in Sub -
Saharan African countries . 
Public health  
1.3.  We underscore that the coronavirus is fundame ntally a health crisis and has affected many 
countries globally. It demonstrates our shared fate as human beings and why inclusive growth and 
development needs should be at the heart of all multilateral organi zations, none more so the WTO. 
Global cooperati on is therefore critical to ensure that its treatment is accessible and affordable to 
the world as a public good. The TRIPS Agreement, including its flexibilities, can contribute to this 
objective . 
1.4.  Over dependence of Africa on imports of medicinal and phar maceutical products subjects 
African healthcare systems to serious vulnerabilities, and overwhelming social and economic 
consequences of COVID -19. It is evident from past experiences that while in the middle of a health 
crisis, the critical success factors  are speed, sharing initiatives and solutions being undertaken. 
Initiatives such as "Access to COVID -19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator " are, therefore, important to 
accelerate the development and availability of COVID -19 tools to ensure equitable global access to  
safe, quality, effective and affordable COVID -19 diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines. An 
agreement on how these tools will be allocated equitably across countries through (new) intellectual 
property flexibilities is key to successfully addressing publi c health crises – now and in the future . 
1.5.  We emphasi ze the importance to take policy and legislative measures to ensure that patents 
and other intellectual property do not erect barriers to access to medicines, diagnostics, vaccines, 
and medical supplies an d devices . 
1.6.  We reiterate the urgent cooperation and coordination needed to facilitate the local 
manufacturing as well as the importation of essential medical supplies, devices, or technologies, 
including diagnostics, medicines, and vaccines – at reasonable and affordable terms . WT/GC/219 • TN/C/20  
 
- 2 - 
 
  Multilateral Trading System  
1.7.  We underscore that the current environment is marked by great uncertainty. It remains unclear 
how the coronavirus will evolve in different countries and regions. Therefore, the work of the WTO 
must take the se realities into account.  
1.8.  We emphasi ze the need for transparency, inclusivity and effective participation of all Members 
on issues that affect their interests, bearing in mind the capacity constraints our countries face in 
this respect.  
1.9.  We stress that g iven the structural vulnerability of African economies and resultant concerns 
about their overall capacity and resilience, there is need for policy options that respond to the specific 
challenges facing African countries, enhance preparedness for future cr ises and to pursue economic 
recovery, as well as realize structural transformation in Africa.  
1.10.   We emphasize the importance of international trade and the centrality of the WTO in 
facilitating trade in essential medical goods and agriculture products.  
1.11.   In this connection, the African Group supports the view that "emergency measures designed 
to tackle  COVID -19, if deemed necessary, must be targeted, proportionate, transparent, and 
temporary, " and should be "consistent with WTO rules. " 
1.12.   We reiterate that cooperation and coordination is critical to protect human life and to lay the 
foundations for a stron g economic recovery and a sustainable, balanced, and inclusive growth with 
an emphasis of building a more resilient trading system. Therefore, we urgently need to engage 
constructively on the role the WTO can play to provide developing and least developed countries 
with the necessary policy space to rebuild their domestic industries.  
1.13.   We recommend that Aid for Trade and the EIF further support economic recovery (production, 
exports, imports and consumption) in developing and least -developed countries for th e benefit of 
women, young people and micro, small and medium -sized enterprises, who are most affected by 
the economic and social difficulties aggravated by the COVID -19 pandemic.  
Agriculture  
1.14.   We stress that the COVID -19 crisis is contributing to increased f ood insecurity and 
malnutrition as currencies are weakening, more vulnerable segments including small farmers and 
seasonal workers are experiencing income shocks and prices of staple foods are rising in many parts 
of Africa. The World Food Programme estima tes suggest that deteriorating employment conditions 
and other factors may have pushed almost 12 million people in Sub Saharan Africa into acute food 
insecurity since February 2020.  
1.15.   This is compounded by other existing crises in many African countries. As  per the UN June 
2020 policy brief "The Impact of COVID -19 on Food Security and Nutrition ", in some parts of Africa 
the March to May rainfall period was one of the wettest the region has seen since 1981, resulting in 
localized flooding and river overflows,  population displacement, as well as infrastructure and crop 
damage. Further, Abundant rains have also promoted the breeding and development of Desert 
Locusts and protracted the outbreak across the region. Combining the COVID -19, flooding and the 
spread of  these locusts, many African countries find themselves combatting a triple menace.  
1.16.   We reiterate the need for reform in the Agreement on Agriculture with priority given to 
providing our countries – especially NFIDCs and LDCs – with the policy space they ne ed to support 
low income and resource poor farmers who are extremely vulnerable to the effects of COVID -19. 
Priority should also be given to delivering on issues directly related to food security and on which 
Ministerial mandates exist, including cotton, S SM and PSH. Addressing long outstanding trade 
distorting domestic support is critical to promoting resilience in agriculture trade.  WT/GC/219 • TN/C/20  
 
- 3 - 
 
  Industriali zation  
1.17.   We underscore the importance of the AfCFTA and the development integration agenda that 
aims to promote ind ustrialization and diversification. We call for a Multilateral Trading System (MTS) 
that supports Africa 's structural transformation agenda which is key to building resilient economies 
that can respond efficiently to crises of this nature. The effects of COVID -19 have highlighted the 
imperatives to deal with strategic vulnerabilities and support efforts to diversify supply chains.  
Digitali zation  
1.18.   COVID -19 has highlighted the importance of e -commerce and digital transformation. 
However, the digita l divide both within and between countries still remains , especially in Africa. This 
has a limiting effect to the equitable and meaningful distribution of the economic and 
transformational benefit of e -commerce and digital trade.  
1.19.   We call on all WTO Members  to commit to the implementation of the 1998 Work Programme 
on E-commerce. Global rules without addressing the developmental aspects on e -commerce will only 
serve to exacerbate the existing disparities.  
Trade, debt and finance interlinkage  
1.20.   We emphasi ze the interrelationship between trade, debt and finance in order to lend 
international support to the financing needs of developing countries to deal with the immediate and 
long-term consequences of the crisis;  
1.21.   It is important to highlight that pre COVID -19 Af rica was already faced with a debt crisis. 
Consequently, Africa needs support with debt relief especially in light of the sharp declines in 
commodity prices, trade, and tourism as a direct result of COVID -19 pandemic are causing 
government revenues to dry up and negatively affecting efforts to adequately respond to the 
containment of the virus. Debt relief will, therefore, help African countries channel scarce resources 
towards the emergency response to COVID -19. We call upon the WTO membership to further 
consider the discussions conducted with respect to debt restructuring and debt relief in other 
international forums.  
1.22.   There is a need to consider effectively within the WTO context any immediate balance of 
payments needs and support the most affected sector s and vulnerable groups of people and other 
urgent pandemic related needs.   
S&D 
1.23.   We stress that trade is an important part of the economic recovery process. Immediate and 
longer -term measures should be designed to build resilience and ensure an inclusive mu ltilateral 
trading system that is responsive to the needs of developing countries, especially LDCs. A clear 
articulation of special and differential treatment across various WTO agreements has to remain an 
integral part of all trade agreements and negotiat ions. Development considerations must underpin 
WTO Members ' trade and investment responses and recovery plans given the impact of COVID -19 
on developing countries and LDCs, notably those in Africa.  
1.24.   WTO Members should, therefore, be aware that it is in eve ryone's benefit to avoid to the 
extent possible that the inequality gap widens. Special and differential treatment is therefore 
necessary to help address the challenges posed by future global crises, such as the COVID -19 
pandemic.  
1.25.   We re -iterate the urgent need for strengthening S&D provisions which are critical to promoting 
public health, accelerate industrialization, upgrade and modernize manufacturing, promote 
technology transfer and close the digital divide. As well as implement governmental assistance 
measures to economic development available under GATT Article XVIII.  WT/GC/219 • TN/C/20  
 
- 4 - 
 
  Conclusion  
1.26.   The African Group reiterates its commitment to the Multilateral Trading System (MTS) and to 
work with all WTO Members for a MTS that contributes to decent employment, sustainabl e 
development, improved living standards, and inclusive growth recognized in the Marrakesh 
Agreement and reaffirmed in the Doha Development Agenda.  
 
__________