申論題

3. “Countries dealing with the economic and public health-related impacts of COVID-19 have adopted a markedly nationalist approach to their response. More than 80 governments have placed restrictions of some sort on the export of personal protective equipment and medication necessary to treat those affected by the virus. Bans or explicit limits on the quantity of a good which may be exported or imported are Quantitative Restrictions, covered directly by Art XI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). As a general rule, Art XI disallows such measures, directly affecting the legality of the export bans and limits introduced in response to COVID-19. This rule, however, is subject to exceptions contained in four provisions of the GATT itself – Art. XI:2, Art. XII, Art. XX and Art. XXI.”