Trade ministers from the Group of 20 major economies pledged Thursday to ensure that any export curbs on key resources needed to fight the novel coronavirus are lifted as soon as possible.

Such restrictions, if deemed necessary, should be "targeted, proportionate, transparent, temporary" and consistent with World Trade Organization rules, they said in a joint statement following a virtual meeting.

At least 80 countries and territories had placed restrictions on exporting goods such as drugs, face masks and ventilators in response to the spread of the virus as of last month, according to the WTO.

While countries are allowed to take temporary measures to prevent shortages of crucial resources, such moves have given rise to concerns of disrupting global supply chains. Because medical supplies are mostly manufactured by rich countries, they could also disproportionately hurt poor countries.

The trade ministers said they would consider exempting humanitarian aid related to the coronavirus pandemic from any export curbs.

Japanese trade minister Hiroshi Kajiyama said in the meeting, "It is crucial that restrictions on business activity and trade can be lifted as soon as possible to avoid a negative impact on the global economy," according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

To boost transparency, the trade ministers pledged to notify the WTO of any trade-related measures their countries take in response to the coronavirus.

The meeting by video-link was called by Saudi Arabia, this year's G-20 chair. At their last talks in late March, the trade ministers had agreed to identify actions to "help alleviate the wide-range impact of COVID-19."

They vowed in Thursday's statement to seek necessary reforms to the WTO to "improve its functioning and support the role of the multilateral trading system in promoting stability and predictability in international trade flows."

Kajiyama also stressed the importance of digital technology in the age of social distancing, and called for more discussion on creating WTO rules on e-commerce.

The G-20 consists of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

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