This archive report was first published on 22 April 2020.
Published on April 22, 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed gaps in public health policies worldwide, and technology will play a crucial role in rebuilding lives.
However, the ongoing political and trade wars between the US and China threaten to hinder the potential role of technology in post-pandemic interventions. The politics of 5G innovation and its potential in the technological revolution are mired up in the coronavirus politics, affecting countries' international relations, especially with China.
Huawei, a major investor in 5G innovation, is likely to be affected by the US's proposed drastic changes to its international trade through the US Foreign Direct Product Rule. The new rules would impose restrictions on the use of technological equipment, including existing production facilities of all semiconductor manufacturers worldwide.
Experts have forecasted that post-COVID-19, ICT and the digital economy will play a vital role in helping the world recover from the economic recession. However, the US's restrictive measures could hurt the industry's confidence and hinder the global economy's recovery.
As the world navigates the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic recession, a global health pandemic followed by an international trade war would be disastrous to the global economy. The US's determination to impose restrictive measures, despite the global health challenge, is a cause for concern.
