This ‘locked down’ issue of Trade Finance Talks showcases some of the actions and extraordinary efforts of global associations and bodies, Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), public and private financiers, and trade practitioners who are softening the blow of COVID-19's health and economic impacts. It covers the furloughing of 1 million garment workers in Bangladesh and the steep declines in merchandise trade, with the WTO noting an 18.5% drop in the second quarter of 2020. It emphasises the need for continued trade policy advancement, regulatory reform, and trade education to keep SMEs integrated in global value chains. Additionally, the issue explores the urgent push towards digitisation in trade finance, driven by the pandemic’s disruption of paper-based systems, and advocates for global standards and a public-private approach to enable digital trade.