Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


COVID-19 Causes Global Exports to Plunge by Billions of Dollars

Lisa Schlein

   GENEVA - A U.N. analysis of the global trade impact of the coronavirus
   epidemic finds nations have been hit with export losses of $50 billion
   in February, and the world should brace itself for worse to come the
   longer the epidemic lasts.

   Over the past two decades, China has become the world's largest
   exporter and supplier of key components for various products
   manufactured in many parts of the world. For example, automobiles,
   cellphones, and medical equipment depend upon the export of
   intermediate parts from China.

   The U.N. Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) reports China
   provides 20 percent of overall global production and trade in the
   manufacture of intermediate goods, making China a critical, integral
   part of the economies and global value chain across the world.

.