Question Period Note: International pledge for open supply chains

On Mar 25/20 Canada endorsed a joint statement with Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Myanmar, New Zealand & Singapore committing to ensuring supply chain connectivity amidst the COVID-19 situation

• It is essential that the international community work together to facilitate the cross-border movement of critical goods, services and personnel by maintaining open and connected supply chains

• Canada is working with likeminded countries to advocate for keeping global supply chains open during the COVID-19 crisis, especially for essential medical supplies, agriculture and other products

• Canada has endorsed a number of statements at the G20, WTO, APEC and other configurations of likeminded countries committing to open supply chains and minimizing disruptions to trade during the pandemic

• Canada is advocating that emergency measures, if necessary to address COVID-19, be targeted, proportionate, transparent, and temporary

• Canada is also working with international partners to commit to open and predictable trade in agricultural and food products. This will help to protect and promote food security, nutrition and the health of people around the world.

Against the backdrop of trade restrictions imposed globally in response to COVID-19 Canada has co-sponsored a number of international statements as a part of its advocacy efforts to ensure an undisrupted flow of medical supplies and essential goods and minimize the negative impacts on global supply chains. Canada has emphasized in these statements that emergency trade measures be proportionate, transparent, temporary and consistent with WTO rules. This includes the following:

March 25 - Statement on supply chain connectivity for medical supplies and other products - supported by Australia, Brunei, Canada Chile, Myanmar, New Zealand and Singapore. Uruguay, Lao PDR and the UAE have since joined the statement

March 26, 30 - G20 Leaders Trade Ministers statements

April 22 - Canada and 24 WTO members issue a joint Ministerial statement on open and predictable trade in agricultural and agri-food products

April 30 - Korea, Canada, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, endorsed a joint ministerial statement that addresses global supply chains; the flow of goods, services and people;

May 5 - Canada and other APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade issue a statement.

May 5 - Canada and 42 other WTO members released a statement that reinforces support for the rules-based multilateral trading system and a role for the WTO in global economic recovery.

May 14 - G20 Trade Ministers statement and endorsement of action items to support world trade and investment responses to COVID-19.

As of June 1, approximately 191 export restrictions have been enacted by 93 countries. Many of these restrictions apply to medical products such as masks, pharmaceuticals, and disinfectants; however export controls on agricultural products are also beginning to emerge.

Canada has undertaken several domestic measures which are aimed at facilitating trade. Canada has temporarily waived tariffs and sales taxes on importation of goods required for an emergency. Canada has also provided flexibility to current regulatory requirements such as waiving labelling requirements on hand sanitizers.

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