Publication: Trade Responses to the COVID-19 Crisis in Africa
Date
2020-04-06
ISSN
Published
2020-04-06
Author(s)
Abstract
Countries in Africa should strive to
maintain trade flows during the crisis to secure access to
medical goods and services, and food and other essential
items such as farm inputs. This requires keeping borders
open to the largest extent possible and avoiding measures
such as export bans or taxes. Countries should take action
to reduce taxes and duties on trade, to streamline trade
procedures and to support transport and logistics services
in maintaining cross-border and international value chains.
By joining together, countries in Africa can implement
coordinated trade measures that result in better responses
to the crisis. Joint actions include bilateral cooperation
on border management, joint information campaigns,
coordinated purchasing of medical equipment, partnering on
repurposing production to produce medical goods, and
management of health specialists to deal with emerging
hotspots on the continent. Development partners should
support coordinated actions by regional institutions through
analysis, technical assistance and perhaps operational
projects. Identifying the appropriate level (sub-national,
national, regional, continental) for interventions and the
most effective institutions, in terms of relevance and
capacity, to manage coordinated actions will be essential.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“Brenton, Paul; Chemutai, Vicky. 2020. Trade Responses to the COVID-19 Crisis in Africa. Trade and COVID-19 Guidance Note;. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/33548 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”