Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the world had witnessed seismic changes in international trade which was influenced by several factors such as the shift of policies of the world's major powers towards international trade. At that time, major attention was placed on the trade war between the major powers, the Brexit, China’s Belt and Road Initiative or BRI, ASEAN Connectivity 2025, the rising roles of India and Japan, as well as on major free trade agreements like the Comprehensive and Progressive Transpacific Partnership (CPTPP).
However, the world over the last two years with the global pandemic of COVID-19 has shifted to a more complicated situation. Never before has that interconnection between trade and health been more obvious and significant, and occurs on a global scale as if the world was not readily prepared for.
Countries have tried their best efforts to protect the health and lives of their population. Trade policy instruments in response to the health crisis, such as the restriction or limitation of export and sharing of raw materials, medical supplies, and vaccines have been implemented.
International trade and health has come to a new era. While the existing problem of negative impacts of trade such as access to essential medicines is exacerbated by the pandemic, the impacts of health on international trade such as from locking down to prevent further transmission on the economy is inevitable and beyond what we could expect. The aspect of international trade and health will not be the same. The inequality of access to medicines, treatments, and vaccines that we witnessed during the pandemic confirms the need for a better global health system and better global governance.
The International Trade and Health (ITH) Conference this year will revisit the impact of COVID-19 on international trade and health aspects and discuss future international trade and health, on the issues of global public goods and global governance, in preparation for better response in the future. It is expected that the evidence, actions, and capacity needed will be identified to provide inputs for future international trade and health.
Objectives
1. To revisit the situation and impacts of COVID-19 on the aspect of international trade and health 2. To discuss future international trade and health, on the issues of global public goods and global governance, in preparation for better response in the future 3. To identify evidence, actions and capacity needed
Expected outcomes
1. Knowledge sharing 2. Professional exchanges leading to joint research and collaboration 3. Policy recommendations for improving work on international trade and health 4. Expanded network and collaboration on international trade and health
Participants
Approximately 100 participants by invitation with pre-registration, including representatives from government agencies, academic researchers, civil society representatives, representatives from the private sector, international participants and network of ITH Programme. In addition, the conference will be broadcasted on Facebook live and Youtube.
Dates
24-26 November 2021, 13.30-15.30 (GMT+7)
Co-hosts
1. International Trade and Health Programme (ITH), International Health Policy Program Foundation 2. National Commission on International Trade and Health Studies (NCITHS) 3. ITH contributors (MOPH, ThaiHealth Promotion Foundation, WHO, NHCO, NHSO, HSRI)
