United States, Canada Join Other G-20 Nations To Minimize Disruptions To Trade And Global Supply Chains
On March 26, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump joined other G20 leaders in a virtual summit and joint statement, pledging joint efforts to “minimize disruptions to trade and global supply chains.”
G20 trade ministers held a follow-up summit on March 31, pledging to “take immediate necessary measures to facilitate trade” in goods needed for pandemic response. The statement, however, stopped short of any pledge to avoid or limit export bans or restrictions. In a statement, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer affirmed the importance of not disrupting supply chains, though he also said that the crisis had shown the dangers of “overdependence on other countries.”
The U.S. Department of State also has created a government-wide contact for global supply chain issues. The State Department plans to coordinate among offices, agencies and with overseas missions best equipped to resolve these issues, providing an initial response within one business day. If your company is facing these global supply chain challenges, you can contact the State Department resource here (USBusiness@state.gov).