ADDIS ABABA -- The United Nations (UN) has released the first version of a handbook on provisions and options for trade in times of crisis and pandemic.
The work on the handbook had come after realizing that hundreds of regional trade agreements in place provided no guidance to countries on how to keep trade going during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a statement from the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) on Tuesday.
Along with the handbook, the UN has also made available a free online self-paced course based on the handbook, said the statement, indicating that professors and teachers of international trade law and development are welcome to integrate the short course in their own programs.
The handbook was initiated by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, in collaboration with organizations and regional commissions including the World Trade Organization and the ECA.
Facilitated global and regional courses based on the handbook will be organized starting later this year, announced the statement.
The handbook is based on inputs collected from a wide range of experts, including from civil society, academia and the private sector, under the Global Initiative on Model Provisions for Trade in Times of Crisis and Pandemic in Regional and other Trade Agreements.
It is a living document, which will be updated based on feedback from users and as new lessons emerge, said the statement.