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United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC):

Restrictions on the export of medical products hamper efforts to contain

coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Latin America and the Caribbean

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD at least in the short term.
— Latin America and the Since March, however, ex-
Caribbean is highly depen- port restrictions on medical
dent on imports of medi- and health products have
cal products, as less than proliferated, including by
4% of these are sourced some of the world’s leading
within the region itself. To suppliers. This note offers
date, more than 70 coun- some elements to gauge
tries —including four of the the likely impact of these
region’s top five suppliers, measures on the capacity
of which the first is the Unit- of countries in the region to
ed States— have restricted respond adequately to the
their medical exports in re- COVID-19 pandemic.
sponse to COVID-19. Export
restrictions are hampering For the full publication go
the supply of products es- to the link:
sential for fighting the pan- https://www.cepal.org/en/
demic in the region. publications/45511-restric-
tions-export-medical-prod-
Latin America and the ucts-hamper-efforts-con-
Caribbean should make cording to the World Health tain-coronavirus-disease.q
it a strategic objective to Organization (WHO), as of
strengthen its productive 4 May 2020, the number ECLAC, which is head-
capabilities in the phar- of confirmed cases ex- quartered in Santiago,
maceutical and medical ceeded 3.4 million, across Chile, is one of the five
supplies and equipment 215 countries, regions and regional commissions
industries, in order to gain territories. These include of the United Nations.
a less vulnerable footing the 33 countries of Latin It was founded with the
to face health crises in the America and the Carib- purpose of contribut-
future. This will require the bean, where 248,672 con- ing to the economic
combined efforts of the firmed cases were reported development of Latin
public sector, business and at that time. A prerequisite America and the Ca-
academia in a mission- for adequately addressing ribbean, coordinating
oriented industrial policy this pandemic is to ensure actions directed to-
framework. Several of the that sufficient medical and wards this end, and re-
region’s countries have health products are avail- especially for the health in Asia. International trade inforcing economic ties
made worthwhile efforts in able when needed in all af- professionals most exposed thus plays a crucial role in among countries and
that direction, which must fected countries. This cat- to the virus. The production ensuring their availability with other nations of
be sustained beyond the egory includes medicines, of medicines and other across regions and coun- the world. The promo-
current pandemic. medical supplies, test kits, medical and health sup- tries, especially develop- tion of the region’s so-
mechanical ventilators, plies is highly concentrated ing ones, which today
In less than four months, masks and other personal in industrialized countries urgently need them but cial development was
later included among
COVID-19 has spread virtu- protective equipment for and a small number of de- lack sufficient productive its primary objectives.
ally across the globe. Ac- the general population and veloping countries, mainly capabilities of their own,

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