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The Japanese Export Insurance Arrangements: Promotion or Subsidisation?

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  • Jai S. Mah
  • Chris Milner

Abstract

Japan has promoted its exports by reducing the risks accompanying overseas sales through short‐term facilities for exporters. Short‐term export insurance schemes operated in line with rules on minimum premia are not prohibited according to current international trade rules. The insured amount of underwriting has however grown steadily and the balance of accounts of export insurance has deteriorated over a sustained, ‘long‐term’ period. The Japanese government has supported the system by reinforcing its financial base. In the 1980s and 1990s, the amount of claims was almost three times higher than premium incomes. Although the Japanese government may have subsidised exporters through the export insurance system, such subsidisation is notionally at least in accordance with the current regulations of the global trading system. The multilateral trading system has included export insurances at premium rates inadequate for covering the long‐term operating costs and losses of the programmes in the list of export subsidies. The current Members of the WTO are obliged to abide by the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures which comprises the illustrative list of export subsidies. However, the Agreement also stipulates that export insurances consistent with the interest rate provisions of the OECD Arrangement should not be considered as an export subsidy. Therefore, provision of export insurances not prohibited by the WTO regulations may be considered by developing countries undergoing trade deficits as a means of export promotion. Japan has done similarly for the past half century.

Suggested Citation

  • Jai S. Mah & Chris Milner, 2005. "The Japanese Export Insurance Arrangements: Promotion or Subsidisation?," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(2), pages 231-241, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:worlde:v:28:y:2005:i:2:p:231-241
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9701.2005.00680.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nam, Chong-Hyun, 1987. "Export-Promoting Subsidies, Countervailing Threats, and the General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 1(4), pages 727-743, September.
    2. Bernadette Lanciaux, 1997. "Postimperialism and the Promotion of a Japanese Model of Economic Development," Journal of Economic Issues, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(2), pages 473-478, June.
    3. Filip Abraham & Inge Couwenberg & Gerda Dewit, 1992. "Towards an EC Policy on Export Financing Subsidies: Lessons from the 1980s and Prospects for Future Reform," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 15(3), pages 389-406, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kahiya, Eldrede T., 2024. "A problematization review of export assistance: Debates and future directions," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(1).
    2. Andreas Klasen & Roseline Wanjiru & Jenni Henderson & Josh Phillips, 2022. "Export finance and the green transition," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 13(5), pages 710-720, November.
    3. Mah, Jai S., 2006. "The effect of export insurance subsidy on export supply: The experience of Japan," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 17(4), pages 646-652, October.

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