Summary of Export restrictions and
trade easing Measures relating to the covid-19 pandemic

report by the secretariat^[1]

Revision

1  Introduction

1.       At its meeting of 18 and 19 October 2022, the Committee on Market Access (the Committee) requested the Secretariat to prepare a fourth revision of the report summarizing the export restrictions and trade easing measures adopted by Members in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2.       This report compiles and summarizes the relevant information on export prohibitions and restrictions that have been notified by Members under the 2012 Decision on Notification Procedures for Quantitative Restrictions^[2] (QR Decision), the communications submitted by Members to the Committee with information on trade easing measures, as well as other measures by WTO Members collected as part of the WTO's Trade Monitoring Exercise and listed in the "COVID-19: Measures affecting trade in goods".^[3]

3.       This revision takes account of all available information as of 12 April 2023. Annexes 1 and 2 provide an overview of the main elements in the export restrictions and prohibitions and the trade easing measures, respectively. In addition, the complete list of notifications and communications to the Committee that have been analysed in this report is contained in document G/MA/W/157/Rev.6.

4.       The Secretariat has been in contact with Members to verify the status of measures contained in this report. While up to date information has been received with respect to four export restrictions (see paragraph 5 below), it is not clear whether the remaining measures have been terminated or continue to be in force. For the purpose of this revision, the Secretariat's assumption is that these measures are still in force. Delegations are invited to inform the Secretariat of the status of these measures with a view to further update the document as appropriate.