Restrictions applied by WTO countries in international trade in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The present article discusses changes in tariff and non-tariff restrictions applied in World Trade Organization (WTO) countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. The employed research tools were a review and analysis of literature along with source statistical data of WTO, UNCTAD, OECD, and ITC. During the pandemic, the average level of tariffs in the WTO countries did not change significantly. From 2019 to 2021, the standard level of duties amounted to less than 15% in more than 90% of the member states. In contrast, 2020 saw an unprecedented increase since 1995 in the number of new non-tariff measures introduced without prior notification. As a result, the restrictions applied as a whole covered the most significant part of world trade since 2009 (13.6%). The newly introduced restrictive measures affected trade worth US$68.8 billion in 2020, i.e., over half as much as in 2019 (US$46.2 billion). A noneconomic factor (pandemic) caused the WTO countries to introduce restrictions that were permitted but eluded normal procedures. This calls into question the effectiveness of liberalization measures within the WTO.