Exporters under siege: Dissecting trade policy responses to COVID-19

Abstract

ABSTRACT Our study assesses trade policy responses in eight advanced small open economies: Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, and Singapore. We catalog 36 distinct initiatives addressing information, education and training, trade mobility, and financial aspects, and the endeavor of several countries to establish such responses, not as piecemeal interventions, but cohesive programs intended to transform the export sector. Further, we highlight how the far-reaching impact of the pandemic creates homogeneity in exporter needs, negating distributional challenges. The all-inclusive nature of the responses, and the involvement and interest of multiple stakeholders, suggests that instead of giving up on globalization, global commerce is doubling down.