ADDIS ABABA – The United Nations (UN) has published the first version of a manual on provisions and options for trade in times of crisis and pandemic.

Work on the manual came after realizing that hundreds of regional trade agreements in place provided no guidance for countries on how to maintain trade during the COVID-19 pandemic, a Commission statement said. United Nations Economic Forum for Africa (UNECA) on Tuesday.

In addition to the manual, the UN has also made available a free online course based on the manual, the statement said, indicating that professors and teachers of international trade and development law are encouraged to integrate the short course. in their own programs.

The manual was launched by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, in collaboration with regional organizations and commissions, including the World Trade Organization and ECA.

Facilitated global and regional courses based on the manual will be organized from the end of the year, the statement said.

The handbook is based on input gathered from a wide range of experts, including civil society, academia and the private sector, as part of the Global Initiative on Model Provisions for Trade in Time of Day. crisis and pandemic in regional and other trade agreements.

This is a living document, which will be updated based on user feedback and as new lessons emerge, the release said.