WT/GC/214  
 
13 May 2020 
(20-3575) Page: 1/2 
General Council  Original: English  
 
JOINT MINISTERIAL S TATEMENT ON  COVID -19 
The following joint ministerial statement , dated 12 May 2020, is being  circulated at the request of 
the delegation of Korea . 
 
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JOINT MINISTERIAL S TATEMENT ON  ACTION PLANS TO FACILITATE  
THE FLOW OF GOODS AN D SERVICES AS WELL A S  
THE ESSENTIAL MOVEME NT OF PEOPLE  
The COVID -19 out break has presented a global challenge that requires a coordinated global 
response. The G20 Trade and Investment Ministers, along with Ministers of atten ding guest 
invitees,  in their Extraordinary Meeting held on 30 March  2020, reaffirmed their collective 
determination to ensure the continued flow of goods, services and personnel as well as 
maintaining the global supply chains.  
 
Based on the G20 Ministeria l Statement, we will identify concrete actions that could help alleviate 
the impact of COVID -19 and work with other countries to develop these actions as follows:  
 
1. Working to ensure the Flow of Goods in Global Supply Chains  
• Expedi te customs procedures  with a view to reducing processing times and related 
administrative burdens in accordance with national laws and regulations.  
- Encourage more use of electronic means for customs processing , which minimize 
face-to-face interactions  without lengthening processing times.  
- Ensur e facilitation of transport and customs clearances of essential goods, such as 
food, critical medical supplies and personal protection equipment . 
• Facilitate the timely flow of goods including essential supplies b y ensuring operation of 
logistics networks via air, sea, and land freight.  
- Work out bilateral and/or multilateral c ooperative arrangements to expedite 
necessary approval procedures for air crew and to utilise additional aircraft for cargo 
operations.  
- Promote transparency of import and export regulations to facilitate continued 
movement of goods.  
• Refrain from the introduction of export prohibitions or restrictions, tariffs and non -tariff 
barriers on essential goods, including food, pharmaceuticals, and crit ical medical 
supplies. This underscores the importance of preserving the ability of countries to import 
essential medical supplies, pharmaceuticals and food to meet their domestic needs.  
- If such measures are instituted,  
- Ensure that measures are targeted,  proportionate, transparent, temporary and 
consistent with WTO rules.  WT/GC/214  
 
- 2 - 
 
  - Provide advance notification of the measure to the WTO as soon as practicable.  
- Work towards removing such measures when the situation allows for it.  
• Establish a consultation mechanism b etween the relevant authorities of the signatory 
countries to identify and address trade disruptions that affect the trade in essential 
goods.  
2. Facilitating the Essential Movement of People  
• Facilitate the resumption of essential cross -border travel, with mutual assurance of 
health standards, while ensuring the safeguarding of public health in line with our efforts 
to combat the pandemic as well as to minimize the socio -economic impacts of COV ID-19.  
• Establish guidelines to allow, on an exceptional basis, essential cross -border travel for 
purposes such as maintaining global supply chains, including essential business travel,  in 
accordance with national laws and regulations , without undermining the efforts to 
prevent the spread of the virus . 
3. Minimizing the Negative Impacts on Trade and Investment arising from the 
Pandemic to facilitate an inclusive and sustainable economic recovery  
• Reiterate and garner strong support for the rules -based internat ional trade system, 
including WTO rules, and work closely with key multilateral economic institutions.  
• Provide relevant information to affected countries and to the WTO in a timely manner  
when adopting  a measure with a foreseeable impact on international trade and 
investment.  
• Develop and share best practices including those for ensuring flows of goods and 
services, minimizing restrictions on people movement, and aiding sectors that are 
adversely affected by the pandemic.  
• Engage actively with the private sector to design and implement measures in a business -
friendly manner and to work together for creative solutions.  
 
MINISTER FOR TRADE, TOURISM AND INVESTMENT, AUSTRALIA, SENATOR THE 
HON SIMON BIRMINGHAM  
 
MINISTER OF SMALL BUSINESS, EXPORT PROMOTION AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE, 
CANADA, HON MARY NG  
 
MINISTER FOR TRADE AND EXPORT GROWTH, NEW ZEALAND, HON DAVID PARKER  
 
MINISTER FOR TRADE, REPUBLIC OF KOREA, HON YOO MYUNG -HEE 
 
MINISTER FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, SINGAPORE, HON CHAN CHUN SING  
 
1 May 2020  
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