The World Trade Organization said in a semi-annual report issued yesterday that global trade was affected by new and accumulated restrictions on imports, while economies need to rebuild in light of the crisis of "Covid-19", but indicated that some export restrictions imposed on Surgical face masks, medicines, and medical equipment early in the pandemic.
While presenting the report to the 164 WTO members, WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo said that although the full impact of the pandemic has not yet been reflected in trade statistics, it is expected to be significant.
The World Trade Organization, last June, reported that estimates for the second quarter of 2020 indicate a decline in global trade by 18% on an annual basis.