COVID-19 : WTO General Council Chair to convene virtual meet on 15 May (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
The Chair of the World Trade Organization's General Council (GC), Ambassador David Walker of New Zealand, will convene a virtual GC meeting on 15 May to discuss the Covid-19 related trade measures, suggesting that the meeting is being held exclusively for transparency and information-sharing purposes.

Trade : EU and allies notify WTO of interim arbitration mechanism (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
The European Union along with 18 countries have notified at the World Trade Organization the "multi-party interim appeal arbitration arrangement" pursuant to Article 25 of the Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU).

WHO : EU draft for WHA on "COVID-19 Response" lacks clarity (PRIV)
(TWN, Geneva)
The European Union's draft resolution on "COVID-19 Response" for the upcoming Seventy-third World Health Assembly (WHA) lacks clarity on the way forward with regard to shortages on access to medical products, according to civil society groups active on health issues.

COVID-19 : Impact on tourism in small island developing states (PRIV)
(IPS, Geneva)
The COVID-19 pandemic and the measures put in place to contain its diffusion are taking a heavy toll on the tourism sector.