International trade in times of crisis: Lessons learned for the future

Series 5 articles

International trade can play a key role in promoting sustainable industrial development and in integrating developing countries into global markets. Times of crisis can disrupt existing patterns of international trade, and challenge, inter alia, global value chains, supply chains, governance, and policy.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns and mobility restrictions caused uncertainty in international trade, leaving firms and governments with vulnerabilities and dependencies in terms of economic growth. Similar crisis might come in the near future, thus, it seems crucial to assess the ability of economies and international trade to adjust to new circumstances.