How <scp>COVID</scp> ?19 Medical Supply Shortages Led to Extraordinary Trade and Industrial Policy

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, a global shortage of hospital gowns, gloves, surgical masks, and respirators caused policymakers globally to panic. China increased imports decreased exports this personal protective equipment, removing supplies from world markets. Shortages led European Union US export controls as well other extraordinary policy actions, including effort reserve manufactured by US-headquartered multinational. By April 2020, China's had mostly resumed, over rest year its volumes surged. But prices also skyrocketed remained elevated through reflecting severe continued shortages. This paper explores these government such trade war tariffs industrial form $1 billion subsidies build out domestic equipment supply chain, potential lessons for future pandemic preparedness international cooperation.