Efectos de la crisis sanitaria causada por covid-19 y su impacto en el comercio exterior del Ecuador durante el 2020.

Abstract

The global health crisis resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic declared on March 11, 2020, has represented a great challenge for all developed and developing countries, including Ecuador, since health systems were put to the test, it also delves into economic and social problems. In 2020, the Gross Domestic Product of Ecuador decreased due to a significant fiscal deficit and stagnation of economic growth, this product of the confinement and impact of international trade activities. Through this investigation, the main objective of determining the effects of the health crisis caused by COVID-19 on the development of Ecuador's foreign trade activities was met. A quantitative research was used in which two or more variables are related in the statistical analysis, and correlational where the statistics are measured in relation to the effects of COVID-19 in international trade activities. Quantitative research refers to the use of computer, statistical and mathematical tools to obtain results, that is, through this research the problem is quantified. In correlational research, it is used to measure two variables through the exploration of information. Therefore, it is important to emphasize the influence that foreign trade has on the Ecuadorian economy, the effect of the suspension of productive activities and the international uncertainty of Ecuador's main trading partners have been determining factors in the magnitude of the impact. in the trade balance and in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country. The contraction in the volume of Ecuadorian foreign trade was caused since March 2020 when China temporarily closes its borders, which causes the suspension of exports of inputs forcing the paralysis of activities of its main suppliers in the American continent. The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the Ecuadorian economy since exports of goods and services decreased significantly, however, it is highlighted that, despite the impact of the pandemic in the international context, some Ecuadorian products had a positive performance in their sales. The Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade, Investment and Fisheries (2020) of Ecuador determined that, in the first weeks of the health emergency, the sales of the entire economic sector were reduced by 42%, which is equivalent to a loss of 1,505 million dollars for Ecuadorian businesses and households. Companies engaged in agricultural, livestock, forestry, fishing and mining production activities had lower losses because they were excluded from mobility restrictions. The shrimp aquaculture and fishing sector registered a positive variation rate with respect to the performance in the second half of 2019 as the international demand for this product increased significantly. It should be noted that Ecuadorian companies were obliged to boost their activities to maintain a competitive level against companies from other countries, including developing electronic programs that allow them to manage their production and trade activities through internet tools (networks social, web pages among others). In conclusion, it is determined that foreign trade activities were affected by the significant drop in prices of the main traditional and non-traditional products such as oil, shrimp, bananas, cocoa, coffee, tuna and other tropical fruits, as a result of confinement measures due to the presence of COVID-19. However, the internal economic situation of Ecuadorian companies has been progressively improving with encouraging economic indicators that show the improvement of the economy through the gradual reactivation of the productive apparatus, reflected in the level of sales to international.