JOINT MINISTERIAL STATEMENT BY AUSTRALIA, BRUNEI DARUSSALAM, CANADA, CHILE, PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, LAO PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC, THE REPUBLIC OF THE UNION OF MYANMAR, NAURU, NEW ZEALAND, SINGAPORE, THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, AND URUGUAY AFFIRMING COMMITMENT TO ENSURING SUPPLY CHAIN CONNECTIVITY AMIDST THE COVID-19 SITUATION
The COVID-19 pandemic is a serious global crisis. As part of our collective response to combat COVID-19, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, People’s Republic of China, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Nauru, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and Uruguay are committed to maintaining open and connected supply chains. We will also work closely to identify and address trade disruptions with ramifications on the flow of necessities.
We recognise that it is in our mutual interest to ensure that trade lines remain open, including via air and sea freight, to facilitate the flow of goods including essential supplies.
We affirm the importance of refraining from the imposition of export controls or tariffs and non-tariff barriers and of removing any existing trade restrictive measures on essential goods, especially medical supplies, at this time.
We are committed to working with all like-minded countries to ensure that trade continues to flow unimpeded, and that critical infrastructure such as our air and seaports remain open to support the viability and integrity of supply chains globally.
Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Australia, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II, Brunei Darussalam,
Hon Dato Dr Amin Liew Abdullah Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, Canada, Hon Mary Ng
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chile, Teodoro Ribera
Minister of Commerce, People’s Republic of China, Zhong Shan
Minister of Industry and Commerce, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Khemmani Pholsena
Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, The Republic of the Union of Myanmar, ThaungTun
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Nauru, Hon Lionel Rouwen Aingimea, President of the Republic of Nauru
Minister for Trade and Export Growth, New Zealand, Hon David Parker
Minister for Trade and Industry, Singapore, Hon Chan Chun Sing
Minister of Economy, The United Arab Emirates, Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri Minister of Foreign Affairs, Uruguay, Ernesto Talvi
