
Asian nations asked to eschew trade barriers
The Hindu
UN ESCAP, ADB urge digital processes
Batting for trade openness, the UN ESCAP and the ADB on Wednesday jointly asked Asian nations to refrain from imposing trade restrictions including non-tariff barriers, stressing in a report that the impact of protectionist measures had never been positive for the global economy.
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) also made a case for promoting digital and paperless trade procedures by the Asian nations in view of the supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Countries should refrain from using export restrictions and other non-tariff measures,” they said in the biennial report.

Insurance penetration and density are often misunderstood and do not reveal how many families are insured or whether they would be financially secure if the main earning member were to die. The real issue is not reach but adequacy, as households may have life insurance but not enough cover to replace lost income, leaving them financially vulnerable.












