World: The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted all destinations worldwide to introduce restrictions on travel, research by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has found. This represents the most severe restriction on international travel in history and no country has so far lifted restrictions introduced in response to the crisis. Following up on previous research, the latest data from the United Nations specialised agency for tourism shows that 100% of destinations now have restrictions in place. Of these, 83% have had COVID-19-related restrictions in place already for four or more weeks and, as of 20 April 2020, so far no destination has lifted them.

Source: World Tourism Organization

World: The World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat has published a new report on the treatment of medical products in regional trade agreements (RTAs) amid current supply shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The report examines the extent medical products are traded among preferential partners and the difference in liberalisation rates within and outside these trade agreements.

Source: World Trade Organization

World: The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted all destinations worldwide to introduce restrictions on travel, research by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has found. This represents the most severe restriction on international travel in history and no country has so far lifted restrictions introduced in response to the crisis. Following up on previous research, the latest data from the United Nations specialised agency for tourism shows that 100% of destinations now have restrictions in place. Of these, 83% have had COVID-19-related restrictions in place already for four or more weeks and, as of 20 April 2020, so far no destination has lifted them.

Source: World Tourism Organization

World: The World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat has published a new report on the treatment of medical products in regional trade agreements (RTAs) amid current supply shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The report examines the extent medical products are traded among preferential partners and the difference in liberalisation rates within and outside these trade agreements.

Source: World Trade Organization

Africa: The African Union (AU) has raised USD25-million for the COVID-19 Response Fund and an additional USD36.5-million to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. AU Chairperson, President Cyril Ramaphosa, made the announcement during a virtual meeting with Chairpersons of the AU Regional Economic Communities (RECs) on Wednesday, 29 April 2020.

Source: SAnews.gov.za

Africa: The Secretary-General of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, Mr. Wamkele Mene, announced the postponement of the implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement scheduled for 1 July 2020, citing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: This Day

Africa: The second Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2020) which was initially set to take place from 1 to 7 September 2020 in Kigali has been postponed to September 2021 in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision was reached after consultation by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the African Union (AU) and the Government of Rwanda. The trade fair estimated the signing and execution of deals worth over USD40-billion.

Source: The New Times

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