Natural disasters and trade: Study I

Study 1 examines the frequency and distribution of natural disasters and analyzes their economic and trade effects, both at a macroeconomic and sectoral level. It provides an in-depth analysis of the impacts of these disasters on each of the six countries covered by the field research. The study also includes summaries of the four symposia organized at the WTO on this topic.

In April 2018, WTO members approved a research project aimed at examining the trade effects of natural disasters. The research focused on disasters arising from geological or geophysical hazards, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and hydro-meteorological hazards, such as droughts and flooding. The project combined desk study with field research in six disaster-affected countries: Dominica, Fiji, Nepal, Saint Lucia, Tonga and Vanuatu. The research is compiled in two studies.