Learning from trade policy responses in the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

As part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic governments are greatly increasing their procurement of medical supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE). In early January 2020, China, the world’s largest producer of PPE, reserved supply for domestic use and greatly increased imports from foreign suppliers. Following the spread of the virus internationally, other countries followed suit, putting in place export bans and/or requisitioning available supplies for domestic use.