2021-09-30-联合国贸易发展委员会-新冠疫情对数字经济贸易的影响（英）_15页_749kb

Summary of UNCTAD Report: Impacts of COVID-19 on Trade in the Digital Economy

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digitalization, increasing reliance on digital tools for economic activity. This boosted international trade in information and communications technology (ICT) goods and services. For example:

• ICT goods trade: Exports increased by 4% in 2020 to over US$2.3 trillion. However, Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Africa saw sharp declines (-82% and -48%, respectively), while Asia and Eastern/ South-Eastern Asia experienced growth. Digital divides widened, with LDCs lagging behind in ICT engagement.

• ICT services and digitally deliverable services: These expanded significantly in 2020, with digitally deliverable services making up nearly 64% of global services exports. COVID-19 drove growth in ICT services by 6%, despite a 20% overall services trade decline. Yet, LDCs faced substantial contractions (e.g., 22% drop in ICT services exports), exacerbating existing inequalities.

• Regional disparities: While developed regions handled the transition better, developing economies, including LDCs, saw volatile trade with larger percentage changes, indicating lower digital readiness and capacity.

The report emphasizes the urgent need to address the digital divide by improving digital infrastructure and readiness in LDCs to avoid further marginalization and promote inclusive growth. Continued monitoring and data collection are recommended to track trends and support policy interventions.