Minister of Commerce Ruhsar Pekcan stated that everyone has learned some lessons from the process caused by the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and said, “The importance of service trade, especially digital trade, in ensuring the sustainability of global supply chains has been better understood in this period. The measures taken in the fight against Covid-19 “A free, fair, open trade and investment environment and a rules-based trading system with the WTO at its center are of vital importance in reducing its impact.” he said.
According to the written statement made by the Ministry, Minister Pekcan attended the G20 2nd Extraordinary Trade and Investment Ministers’ Meeting on behalf of Turkey, where actions that could be taken against the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on international trade and investment were discussed.
The main agenda topic of the meeting held via videoconference was the “G20 Actions Document to Support World Trade and Investment in the Fight against Covid-19”.
In her speech at the meeting, Minister of Commerce Ruhsar Pekcan stated that international trade and investment were deeply affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and in this context, she stated that it is very important, as G20 trade and investment ministers, to create an action plan that includes short and long-term actions in the fight against the virus.
Pointing out that various policies have been implemented and innovative ideas have been implemented to ensure trade flow under the current pandemic conditions, Pekcan stated that in this context, “contactless trade” is being implemented at some customs gates in Turkey.
Pekcan stated that within the scope of “contactless trade”, buffer zones were established at some customs gates where container and trailer exchanges are carried out without human intervention, and also noted that railway transportation and Ro-Ro transportation continue without human contact.
Emphasizing that everyone has learned some lessons from this process, Pekcan said, “The importance of service trade, especially digital trade, in ensuring the sustainability of global supply chains has been better understood in this period. In reducing the impact of the measures taken in the fight against Covid-19, a free, fair, open trade and investment environment and “A rules-based trading system with the WTO at its center is vital.” made his assessment.
Action Plan to Combat Covid-19 was accepted
As a result of the meeting, where participating ministers also made speeches, a Ministerial Declaration was published and an Action Plan containing short and long-term actions in the fight against Covid-19 was adopted.
The Action Plan includes short and long-term actions to mitigate the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on global trade and investment.
According to the plan, some decisions taken within the scope of short-term actions are as follows:
“- Urgent trade measures against Covid-19 for vital medical supplies and other essential goods and services must be transparent, temporary, compatible with WTO rules and not create unnecessary obstacles to trade,
- Accelerating the implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, accelerating customs procedures in accordance with this agreement, encouraging the use of electronic documents and smart applications,
- Sharing good practices and experiences regarding the measures implemented by countries at customs during the pandemic process and reporting trade-related measures in accordance with WTO obligations,
- Supporting the work of G20 Transport Ministers to improve air, land and sea connections,
- Encouraging the development of communication channels and networks of micro-SMEs and preparing detailed reports by international organizations on the effects of disruptions in global value chains on micro-SMEs.”
- Long-term action decisions
In the action plan, it was decided to support the multilateral trade system and WTO reform in the long term, improve the relationship between digital economy and trade, notify trade-related measures to the WTO and strengthen transparency.
Other long-term actions included in the plan are listed as follows:
“- To work to ensure a free, open, inclusive, non-discriminatory, transparent, predictable and stable trade and investment environment,
- Strengthening cooperation on paperless trade between authorities responsible for regulating trade, sharing good practices on measures taken to support trade and production of essential goods and services, in particular, in times of global crisis,
- Encourage the determination of guiding principles at the national level that will allow exceptional travel (including business travel) in the event of a possible global health crisis, without harming the measures taken for public health,
“It was decided to encourage investments in the production of medical products and personal protective equipment.”
