COVID-19 trade policy database : food and medical products

Abstract

Many governments are using trade policy measures to increase the availability of personal protective equipment, medical supplies, and food products during the COIVD-19 pandemic. Such measures may take many forms and be carried out by different government agencies. Tracking them is important for assessing their incidence, effectiveness, and potential international spillover effects—particularly on countries that depend on imports of these critical products. The data on this page are the work of a partnership between the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies’ Global Governance Programme at the European University Institute, the University of St. Gallen’s Global Trade Alert initiative, and the Trade and Regional Integration unit of the World Bank Group. The project collects information on trade policy changes affecting medical and food products since the beginning of 2020. Its aim is to document the cumulative resort to trade policies and changes across countries over time. Information is derived from official sources, media reports, and other public sources and is updated on a weekly basis.