WTO report shows significant growth in global trade in medical supplies

The World Trade Organization secretariat recently released a report showing that global trade in medical supplies increased significantly in the first half of this year as a result of measures taken by many countries to suspend or postpone the collection of tariffs on anti-epidemic materials and simplify customs clearance procedures.

After preliminary statistical analysis of medical supplies trade data of 41 countries, the report estimated that global trade in medical supplies increased by 37.8% in the first half of this year.

The report also said that during the new crown epidemic, the new medical service trade, represented by telemedicine, broke the geographical restrictions of the traditional medical industry and gained rapid development.

The report believes that with the expansion of medical supplies exports from some countries, the global medical supplies supply tension will be further eased.