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Fire lines as fault lines: increased trade barriers during the COVID-19 pandemic further shatter the global food system

Author

Listed:
  • Kevin Z. Chen

    (Zhejiang University
    International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI))

  • Rui Mao

    (Zhejiang University)

Abstract

In this opinion piece, we highlight that trade barriers established during COVID-19 as “fire lines” to prevent cross-border transmission of the pandemic could become “fault lines” that demolish the global food system. We review restrictions on both international agricultural exports and imports, especially unilateral border controls such as import refusals and alerts, in previous epidemics and arising with two novel features amid COVID-19. Institutional causes to pervasive trade barriers in epidemics that are embedded in the WHO-WTO coordination scheme have been discussed. In the meantime, discussions on potential economic outcomes and policy recommendations have been provided.

Suggested Citation

  • Kevin Z. Chen & Rui Mao, 2020. "Fire lines as fault lines: increased trade barriers during the COVID-19 pandemic further shatter the global food system," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 12(4), pages 735-738, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:12:y:2020:i:4:d:10.1007_s12571-020-01075-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s12571-020-01075-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jouanjean, Marie-Agnès & Maur, Jean-Christophe & Shepherd, Ben, 2015. "Reputation matters: Spillover effects for developing countries in the enforcement of US food safety measures," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 81-91.
    2. Grundke, Robert & Moser, Christoph, 2019. "Hidden protectionism? Evidence from non-tariff barriers to trade in the United States," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 143-157.
    3. Rutten, Martine & Shutes, Lindsay & Meijerink, Gerdien, 2013. "Sit down at the ball game: How trade barriers make the world less food secure," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 1-10.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ahn, Soojung & Steinbach, Sandro, 2022. "COVID-19 Trade Actions and Their Impact on the Agricultural and Food Sector," 2022 Allied Social Sciences Association (ASSA) Annual Meeting (Virtual), January 7-9, 2022 316789, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    2. Zhan, Yue & Chen, Kevin Z., 2021. "Building resilient food system amidst COVID-19: Responses and lessons from China," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    3. Katja Pietrzyck & Sebastian Jarzębowski & Brigitte Petersen, 2021. "Exploring Sustainable Aspects Regarding the Food Supply Chain, Agri-Food Quality Standards, and Global Trade: An Empirical Study among Experts from the European Union and the United States," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-21, September.
    4. Bekhzod EGAMBERDIEV, 2021. "Household Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic From A Development Economics Perspective - A Review," Regional Science Inquiry, Hellenic Association of Regional Scientists, vol. 0(1), pages 15-30, June.
    5. Soojung Ahn & Sandro Steinbach, 2023. "The impact of COVID‐19 trade measures on agricultural and food trade," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 45(2), pages 911-927, June.
    6. Raymond J. March, 2021. "The FDA and the COVID‐19: A political economy perspective," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 87(4), pages 1210-1228, April.
    7. Gumataw Kifle Abebe & Sylvain Charlebois & Janet Music, 2022. "Canadian Consumers’ Dining Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Channel Decisions in the Foodservice Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-21, April.
    8. Messner, Wolfgang, 2024. "Distance is the spice, but not the whole enchilada: Country-pair psychic distance stimuli and country fixed effects in a deep learning implementation of the trade flow model," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(1).
    9. Ahn, Soojung & Steinbach, Sandro, 2021. "COVID-19 Trade Actions in the Agricultural and Food Sector," Journal of Food Distribution Research, Food Distribution Research Society, vol. 52(2), July.

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