an analysis of the impacts of covid-19 and freight cost on trade of the economic belt and the maritime silk road

The coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) epidemic in china has been controlled periodically. however, we are now in a period of rapid outbreaks worldwide, the situation of epidemic prevention and control in all countries is still tense. due to the covid-19 outbreak, objectively, international trade has a higher risk of infection. at this stage, the prevention and control of the epidemic have become a responsibility for the countries worldwide. this study aims to measure the potential economic impacts of covid-19 on trade volume between china and one belt one road countries (obor). the economic impacts assessments of (covid-19) on trade are based on a gravity model and speed of convergence (sc) method by changes in trading behavior and cost of (covid -19) outbreak by in affected countries. the results reveal that potential trade values between china and european union (eu) will drop by 11.5%, china and east asia and pacific (eap) by 6,7%, china and the middle east and north africa (mena) by 8.9%, china and south asia (sar) by15%, china and europe and central asia (eca) by 9%.