Asia Regional Integration Center

The fight against the pandemic has left a large imprint on the US Federal Reserve’s balance sheet. Since the outbreak of the pandemic in early 2020, the US Fed has purchased a wide range of assets and pumped liquidity into the financial system to cushion the impact of the pandemic and fiscal stimulus on interest rates.

Trade in services, particularly non-digital services, and movement of people is still sluggish due to the ongoing pandemic. The emergence of new COVID-19 variants has hit trade particularly hard.

Current blockages in some supply chains are raising questions about the complexity and importance of these networks.

The pandemic has created unprecedented economic difficulties globally. The countries in South Asia are among the most affected. South Asia’s GDP contracted by 5.6% in 2020.

Current blockages in some supply chains are raising questions about the complexity and importance of these networks.

Over the last half century, Asia has been one of the most economically vibrant regions in the world. Asian countries have worked together to build strong and resilient economies that have lifted millions out of poverty.