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Sustainable trade

Third quarter 2020 merchandise trade value


Published 09 March 2021 | 1 minute read

The quarterly publication provides key statistics on world merchandise exports by value.

According to the report, the world merchandise exports decreased by 4% in the third quarter of 2020 over the previous year.

This was a significant improvement from the 21% decline in the second quarter of 2020 as production resumed and lockdown measures were eased in major economies.

World merchandise exports decreased by 4% in Q3 2020. All regions recorded declines except Asia (2%), which was buoyed by Chinese exports. World merchandise imports contracted in every region of the world, falling the most in South & Central America (-23%).

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The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world’s trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. The goal is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible.

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