G/AG/GEN/176  
 
27 November 2020  
(20-8580) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Agriculture  Original: English  
 
OECD ANALYSIS RELATED TO COVID -19 
SUBMISSION BY THE OECD  
The following submission, dated 27 November 2020, is being circulated at the request of 
the Organisation for Economic Co -operation and Development (OECD).  
 
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1  KEY POLICY RESPONSES TO COVID -19 FROM THE OECD  
1.1  About the Policy Responses series  
1.1.  The OECD is compiling data, analysis and recommendations on a range of topics to address 
the emerging health, economic and societal crisis, facilitate co -ordination, and contribute to the 
necessary global action. This new series brings together information on policy responses spanning a 
large range of topics, from health to education and taxes, providing guidance on the short -term 
measures needed in affected s ectors and a specific focus on the vulnerable sectors of society and 
the economy. Beyond immediate responses, the content aims to provide analysis on the longer -term 
consequences and impacts, paving the way to recovery with co -ordinated policy responses ac ross 
countries.  
1.2.  Access all policy responses: http://www.oecd.org/coronavirus/en/policy -responses . 
1.2  Agriculture -specific policy briefs  
1.2.1   The role of transparency in avoiding a COVID -19 induced food crisis  
1.3.  Early in the COVID -19 outbreak, there were concerns that the health crisis would develop into 
a large -scale food crisis similar to the 2007 -08 food price crisis, when panic buying and 
counterproductive policies exacerbated initial suppl y disruptions. While food supply chains have seen 
disruptions, and there are future risks that require attention, a food price crisis has been avoided so 
far, in part thanks to improved transparency in global staple crop markets. Transparency on market 
conditions and policies is critical in helping reduce market uncertainty, exposing bottlenecks and 
highlighting risks, all of which help market participants and policy makers develop more effective 
responses in times of crisis. More broadly, transparency is e ssential for global markets to work and 
provide a resilient supply of affordable food. Yet, transparency is not automatic: it requires 
investments in gathering comparable information, monitoring market and policy developments, and 
communicating clearly abo ut the findings. This note discusses the importance of transparency, and 
the investments it requires, using the example of the Agriculture Market Information System  (AMIS), 
a G20 initiative created in response to the 2007 -08 food price crisis. While AMIS f ocuses on major 
staple crops (wheat, maize, rice and soybeans), experience with AMIS can provide insights for the 
wider agriculture and food sector.  
1.4.  Access this policy brief: http://www.oecd.org/coronavirus/policy -responses/the -role-of-
transparency -in-avoiding -a-covid-19-induced -food-crisis-d6a37aeb/ .  G/AG/GEN/176  
 
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  1.2.2   Getting goods across borders in times of COVID -19 
1.5.  This note u pdates "Trade facilitation and the COVID -19 pandemic " from April 2020 with insights 
into the evolution of new border protocols and trade facilitation measures impacting traders 
since COVID -19 and exploring what more can be done to prepare for the next stag es of the pandemic 
as uncertainty persists. It highlights the importance of transparency and availability of timely 
trade-related information in mapping bottlenecks and risks, as well as the importance of trade 
facilitation measures in supporting business recovery and resilience across different goods sectors. 
Finally, it provides some preliminary insights for trade facilitation with respect to the distribution of 
vaccines.  
1.6.  Access this policy brief: http://www.oecd.org/coronavirus/policy -responses/getting -goods -
across -borders -in-times -of-covid-19-972ada7a/ . 
 
 
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