Circular No. 4204/Add.32 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) – ICAO Harmonized guidance on facilitating passenger flights, including repatriation flights, using public health corridors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Circular nº 4204/Add.31
17 September 2020
- All IMO Member States
- United Nations and specialized agencies
- Intergovernmental organizations
- Non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the IMO
Subject: Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Joint statement on the contribution of international trade and supply chains to a sustainable socio-economic recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Secretary-General of UNCTAD, the Secretary-General of ICAO, and the Executive Secretaries of the regional Economic Commissions (ECA, ECE, ECLAC, ESCAP, ESCWA), together with the Secretary-General of the IMO, have published a joint statement.
Governments are urged to maximize the contribution of trade and supply chains to socio-economic recovery through the use of international legal instruments and regional cooperation. Member States are requested to bring this circular to the attention of maritime, health, immigration, and border control authorities.
Annex: Joint Statement (September 16, 2020)
Maritime transport is vital for prosperity, moving more than 80% of world trade by volume and between 60% and 70% by value, operated by two million seafarers. Air transport, for its part, represents 35% of the value of goods consigned across all modes combined.
Economic Impact of the Pandemic
Travel restrictions and border closures have affected supply chains. The following impact projections are observed:
| Region / Sector | Estimated Impact |
|---|---|
| Inland transport (Pan-European) | Reduction by half by the end of 2020. |
| Freight transport (Asia) | Reduction by half by the end of 2020. |
| Exports/Imports (Latin America/Caribbean) | Contraction of 23% and 25% respectively. |
| Airlines (Arab Region) | Revenue losses of 38 billion USD. |
| Aviation sector (Africa) | Losses of more than 6 billion USD and 3.1 million jobs.. |
Recommendations and Measures
For recovery, the following is required:
- Implementation of UN instruments such as the TIR Convention, the CMR Convention, and the ASYCUDA system to facilitate contactless transport.
- Use of data exchange standards such as those of UN/CEFACT.
- Urgent attention to the seafarer crisis, with more than 300,000 people needing immediate repatriation as of August 2020.
- Application of harmonized, flexible, and risk-based measures, aligned with the principles of the ICAO CART report for air transport.
- Greater digitalization of trade and customs procedures.
