WT/GC/216  
 
20 May 2020  
(20-3719) Page: 1/4 
General Council  Original: English  
 
G20 TRADE AND INVEST MENT MINISTERIAL MEE TING  
MINISTERIAL STATEMEN T 
THURSDAY, 14 MAY 202 0 
The following ministerial statement, dated 15 May 2020, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  
 
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We, the Trade and Investment Ministers of the G20 and guest countries, reaffirm our determination 
to cooperate and coordinate to mitigate the impact of the COVID -19 pandemic on trade and 
investment and to contribute to laying a solid foun dation for global economic recovery based on a 
strong, sustainable, balanced, and inclusive growth.  
 
We endorse the "G20 Actions to Support World Trade and Investment in Response to COVID -19" 
prepared by the Trade and Investment Working Group (Annex). Whil e the short -term responses are 
designed to alleviate the impact of COVID -19, the long -term actions support the necessary reform 
of the WTO and the multilateral trading system, build resilience in global supply chains, and 
strengthen international investmen t. 
 
We welcome the collective work carried out by the international organizations to provide a 
consolidated in -depth analysis of the impact of COVID -19 on world trade, investment and global 
supply chains. We will continue working with these organizations, within their mandates, to facilitate 
investment and flows of essential goods and services.  
 
We will continue monitoring the situation closely, assessing the impact of the pandemic on trade, 
and convene again as necessary. We task the G20 Trade and Investme nt Work Group to continue 
paying the highest attention to these actions and to provide status updates on the implementation 
of the agreed actions.  
 
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  ANNEX  
G20 ACTIONS TO SUPPO RT WORLD  TRADE AND INVESTMENT  
IN RESPONSE TO COVID -19 
1. Short -term collective actions  
 
1.1. Trade regulation  
 
1.1.1. Ensure that any emergency trade measures designed to tackle COVID -19, including export 
restrictions on vital medical supplies and equipment and other essential goods and services, if 
deemed neces sary, are targeted, proportionate, transparent, temporary, reflect our interest in 
protecting the most vulnerable, do not create unnecessary barriers to trade or disruption to global 
supply chains, and are consistent with WTO rules . 
 
1.1.2. Refrain from in troducing export restrictions on agricultural products, including on products 
purchased for non -commercial humanitarian purposes, and avoid unnecessary food -stockpiling, 
without prejudice to domestic food security, consistent with national requirements . 
 
1.1.3. Consider exempting humanitarian aid related to COVID -19 from any export restrictions on 
exports of essential medical supplies, medical equipment and personal protective equipment, 
consistent with national requirements . 
 
1.2. Trade facilitation  
 
1.2.1 . Accelerate the implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, to the extent 
possible, particularly the provisions which are especially critical during the pandemic, such as 
Article  7.1 (Pre -arrival processing), Article 7.3 (Separation of release  from final determination of 
customs duties, taxes, fees, and charges), and Article 7.8 (Expedited shipment) . 
 
1.2.2. Speed up and streamline customs procedures, in line with the WTO Trade Facilitation 
Agreement and encourage the use of electronic document ation and processes, where possible and 
practical, including use of smart applications . 
 
1.2.3. Reduce sanitary and technical barriers by encouraging greater use of relevant existing 
international standards and ensuring access of information on relevant st andards is not a barrier to 
enabling production of PPE and medical supplies . 
 
1.2.4. Share necessary information within the G20 regarding medical suppliers, as appropriate and 
according with applicable national legislation, so as to facilitate trade deals . 
 
1.2.5. Encourage G20 Ministers of Economy and Ministers of Industry to expand production capacity 
for medical devices and components and personal protective equipment, consistent with public 
health guidance . 
 
1.2.6. Encourage G20 Digital Ministers to pro mote the application of online services and e -
commerce, in accordance with national laws and regulations, to facilitate the flow of essential goods 
and services during the pandemic . 
 
1.2.7. Encourage our Governments to facilitate the resumption of essential cross -border travel, in 
accordance with national laws and regulations, while safeguarding public health in line with our 
efforts to combat the pandemic as well as to minimize the socio -economic impacts of COVID -19. 
 
1.2.8. Support the efforts of international organizations (WTO, OECD, FAO, WFP etc.) to analyse the 
impacts of COVID -19 on global agricultural supplies, distribution chains and agri -food production 
and trade . 
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  1.3. Transparency  
 
1.3.1. Share experiences and best practices on measures t hat countries have put in place at their 
borders at this time, with points of contact to be identified for each of our Governments within a 
reasonable timeline . 
 
1.3.2. Notify trade -related measures, including customs and other border operations, introduce d in 
response to COVID -19, in accordance with our WTO obligations . 
 
1.4. Operation of logistics networks  
 
1.4.1. Encourage G20 Transport Ministers to enhance air, land, and marine connectivity and work 
with the private sector to prioritize movement of esse ntial goods in having access to freight in order 
to achieve a critical mass to maintain connectivity and safeguard jobs . 
 
1.4.2. Encourage G20 Transport Ministers to facilitate the increase of air cargo capacity through 
temporarily converting passenger air craft into freighters to carry goods, in accordance with 
applicable safety and security standards . 
 
1.4.3. Encourage G20 Transport Ministers to make publicly accessible information regarding 
enforcement procedures for vehicles, drivers, and cargo or passen gers and travellers, especially for 
quarantine areas, within a reasonable timeline, and as far as practicable . 
 
1.4.4. Encourage G20 Transport Ministers to abide by international practices and guidelines to ensure 
the movement of goods through maritime cha nnels, in accordance with national laws and 
regulations . 
 
1.5. Support for micro, small, and medium -sized enterprises (MSMEs)  
 
1.5.1. Call for international organizations to prepare in -depth reports, within their mandates, on the 
disruption of global value  chains caused by the pandemic on MSMEs . 
 
1.5.2. Encourage enhancement of communication channels and networks for MSMEs, including 
through deepened collaboration with the private sector . 
 
2. Longer -term collective actions  
 
2.1. Supporting the multilateral trading system  
 
2.1.1.  Promote the necessary reform of the WTO to improve its functioning and support the role of 
the multilateral trading system in promoting stability and predictability of international trade flows.  
 
2.1.2.  Continue the disc ussion on how the G20 can support work at the WTO, including under the 
Riyadh Initiative on the Future of the WTO.  
 
2.1.3.  Endeavor to strengthen transparency and notify the WTO of any trade -related measures 
taken, in accordance with our WTO obligations.  
 
2.1.4.  Work together to deliver a free, fair, inclusive, non -discriminatory, transparent, predictable 
and stable trade and investment environment and to keep our markets open.  
 
2.1.5.  Work to ensure a level playing field to foster an enabling business envi ronment.  
 
2.1.6.  Reaffirm the importance of interface between trade and digital economy, and note the ongoing 
discussions under the Joint Statement Initiative on Electronic Commerce and the Moratorium on 
Customs Duties on Electronic Transmissions, and reaf firm the need to reinvigorate the Work Program 
on Electronic Commerce at the WTO.  
 
2.1.7.  Explore COVID -19 related WTO initiatives to promote open and more resilient supply chains, 
and expand production capacity and trade in the areas of pharmaceutical, me dical and other health -
related products.  
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  2.2. Building resilience in global supply chains  
 
2.2.1.  Support the development and sharing of best practices, specifically in terms of measures that 
could be taken during a global crisis to support expanding prod uction and trade in essential goods 
and services, including digital trade/e -commerce.  
 
2.2.2.  Strengthen cooperation between authorities responsible for the regulation of trade, including 
customs authorities, with regard to the issues relating to electroni c document management.  
 
2.2.3.  Ensure the transparency and availability of trade -related information and global market 
information useful to MSMEs, noting inputs from the Business 20.  
 
2.2.4.  Encourage connection and policies to strengthen the cooperation between multinational 
corporations and MSMEs, noting inputs from the Business 20.  
 
2.2.5.  Encourage our Governments to establish voluntary guidelines that would allow, in the event 
of a global health crisis, essential cross -border travel, including essenti al business travel, on an 
exceptional basis, in accordance with national laws and regulations, and without undermining efforts 
to safeguard public health.  
 
2.3. Strengthening international investment  
 
2.3.1.  Recalling the voluntary G20 Guiding Principles for Global Investment Policymaking, share 
information on actions taken to strengthen international investment for sustainable development.  
 
2.3.2.  Share best practices on promoting investments in sectors related to or impacted by the 
COVID -19 pa ndemic.  
 
2.3.3.  Work together to identify key areas, such as critical medical supplies and equipment and 
sustainable agriculture production, where investment is needed.  
 
2.3.4.  Encourage investment in new capacity for producing medical supplies, medical eq uipment, 
and personal protective equipment.  
 
2.3.5.  Encourage government agencies to work with companies and investors in identifying 
investment opportunities and activities.  
 
2.3.6.  Encourage consultations with the private sector on their needs as necessa ry, as part of policy 
making on foreign direct investment.  
 
2.3.7.  Encourage cooperation on technical assistance and capacity building provided to developing 
and least developed countries on investment promotion.  
 
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