A logo is pictured on the headquarters of the World Trade Organization in Geneva on June 2,2020. Picture: REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
The global trade body said building resilience would be critical to helping small businesses face future economic downturns. It said e-commerce, for instance, could help overcome damaged supply chains by tapping into a wider range of international buyers and alternative suppliers. The trade body said Covid-19 had highlighted the importance of the internet and e-commerce to mitigate the effect of the pandemic, not only on people’s lives, but on economic activity as well.
Beyond support for overcoming cash flow problems, some WTO members have also introduced measures to expand trade opportunities for small businesses. These trade-expanding measures essentially comprise customs-related processes, such as the streamlining of customs procedures or the reduction of customs duties, in particular on medical supplies and agricultural products.