International Trade of Masks and COVID-19 Pandemic Containment

Abstract

This study analyzes the impact of the exports of China's masks and other antivirus supplies on the people from the importing countries who are subject to the severe pandemic during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Our main data include the COVID-19 cases data of countries around the world published by Johns Hopkins University and the data of China's exports of masks or other antivirus supplies to these countries from the Chinese Customs Database. Using cross-sectional data of about 180 countries and multiple regression analysis, we find that the antivirus supplies from China have played an important role in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, China's masks are shipped to countries around the world, and these masks can improve the recovery rate and protect people against the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings are relevant to global efforts in the COVID-19 pandemic containment.

Figure 1

(a) The cumulative confirmed/recovered/death cases of COVID-19 in the world. (b) The newly confirmed/recovered/death cases of COVID-19 in the world.

Figure 2

China's exports of antivirus supplies and the world's total exports.

Figure 3

(a) China's monthly export value of antivirus supplies. (b) China's monthly export value and weight of masks.

Figure 4

(a) The linear relationship between China's export growth rate of mask weight and recovery rate of countries. (b) The nonlinear relationship between China's export growth rate of mask weight and recovery rate of countries.