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The following article presents a brief analysis of the effects on the economy and international trade of the rules and policies implemented in the world to face and contain the covid-19 pandemic, including: i) export restrictions on medical supplies and personal protective equipment, as well as import facilitation measures; ii) travel limitations and border closures; and iii) the effects of the uncertainty generated by the sanitary emergency on foreign direct investment. In addition, the paper proposes that one of the long-term consequences of covid-19 will be a generalized increase in protectionist policies through trade remedies and tariff and non-tariff barriers, in response to the economic recovery measures implemented in each country. Particularly, China has such an aggressive exports recovery plan, that it will potentially trigger a wave of trade remedies across the globe, to contain its expansion on foreign markets. The history of international trade development demonstrates that an increase in trade remedies, has been a usual response in the world, after deep financial crisis. In this case, early signs of the increase in protectionism are already appearing in some countries, especially in the steel industry. Thus, it is probable that, in the context of a global economic recovery, countries continue to adopt measures to protect the sustainability of their national industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]