G20 merchandise trade hit by pandemic.

COVID-19 measures introduced in most countries sent G20 merchandise trade plummeting in the second quarter of 2020, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said in late August 2020. Compared with the first quarter of 2020, exports fell by 17.7% and imports by 16.7%, the largest fall since the 2009 financial crisis.

The second quarter's monthly data revealed that the collapse in trade occurred in April 2020, when most countries had stringent COVID-19 containment measures in place.

Compared to March 2020, G20 exports and imports fell by 18.7% and 16.0%, respectively. However, May and June's...