The interconnected world of trade, travel, and transportation networks

Countries have adopted a wide range of cross-border trade and travel measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Not all these measures fall under the International Health Regulations or are scientifically grounded (Lee et al., 2020). Based on a numerical simulation of the economic losses by Burns et al. (2008), the GDP loss caused by a pandemic may exceed $3.5 trillion. Fan et al. estimated the annual economic loss caused by pandemics to be as high as $570 billion, accounting for 0.7% of total global income (Fan et al., 2016). This chapter highlights the impact of pandemics on trade, travel, and transportation. It reviews a series of environmental mitigation measures and standardized health procedures for inbound and outbound travelers and goods. Our review suggests that complying with the relevant international standards and requirements mitigates the adverse effects of pandemics on trade, travel, and transportation.