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Regionalism and falling external protection in high and low tariff members

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  • Crivelli, Pramila

Abstract

This paper provides evidence that the reduction in applied most-favoured nation (MFN) tariffs resulting from a decrease in preferential tariffs is restricted to (or significantly larger in) high-tariff members of preferential trade agreements (PTAs). This heterogeneous impact is observed only when the share of preferential imports increases, leading to a decline in tariff revenue. This makes countries which tend to heavily depend on tariff revenue as a source of government funding more likely to reduce their MFN tariffs, which is also observed in the data. These results that are consistent with a mechanism operating through trade deflection and the associated loss of tariff revenue therefore lend support to the building bloc view of regionalism in countries applying high external tariffs before the agreement. In contrast, driven by other factors, the impact in low-tariff countries remains unclear with either insignificant effects or tariff substitution.

Suggested Citation

  • Crivelli, Pramila, 2016. "Regionalism and falling external protection in high and low tariff members," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 70-84.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:inecon:v:102:y:2016:i:c:p:70-84
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jinteco.2016.06.001
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    Cited by:

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    4. Atika Benaddi & Peri Silva, 2022. "The multilateral trade policy of the Arab league countries: An empirical investigation," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(11), pages 3420-3450, November.
    5. Chad P. Bown & Patricia Tovar, 2016. "Preferential Liberalization, Antidumping, and Safeguards: Stumbling Block Evidence from MERCOSUR," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(3), pages 262-294, November.
    6. Kuenzel, David J. & Sharma, Rishi R., 2021. "Preferential trade agreements and MFN tariffs: Global evidence," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    7. Tobias D. Ketterer, 2015. "EU Regionalism and External Tariff Protection: The Role of Initial Tariffs and the Heterogeneity of Preferential Market Access," Discussion Papers 2015-03, University of Nottingham, GEP.
    8. Saggi, Kamal & Wong, Woan Foong & Yildiz, Halis Murat, 2019. "Should the WTO require free trade agreements to eliminate internal tariffs?," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 316-330.
    9. Tovar, Patricia, 2019. "Preferential and multilateral liberalization: Evidence from Latin America’s use of tariffs, antidumping and safeguards," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    10. Victor Kummritz, 2016. "Do Global Value Chains Cause Industrial Development?," CTEI Working Papers series 01-2016, Centre for Trade and Economic Integration, The Graduate Institute.
    11. Shugeng Dai & Dong Tan, 2022. "China and the United States Hierarchical International Competitiveness Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-12, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Regionalism; Preferential trade agreements; Trade deflection; External tariffs; Trade liberalization; Tariff revenue;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration

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