Many countries have imposed export restrictions as part of their response to the Covid-19 crisis, the World Trade Organization (WTO) has found.
In its initial research the WTO found 80 nations and customs territories had imposed new trade barriers, in particular related to medical supplies, including personal protection equipment.
It warned that countries had made the moves with a ‘lack of transparency at the multilateral level’ and despite incurring ‘long-term risks that export restrictions pose to global supply chains and public welfare’.