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The effect of the Canada‐US Free Trade Agreement on Canadian multilateral trade liberalization

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  • Joseph Mai
  • Andrey Stoyanov

Abstract

In this paper show that the Canada‐US Free Trade Agreement (CUSFTA) tariff preferences have triggered a decline in Canadian external tariffs, explaining a two percentage point reduction in the average tariff between 1989 and 1998. Next, we found that industries that generate the least export rent to the US firms experienced deeper tariff cuts in Canada; this result provides evidence of cooperation in trade policies between the US and Canada. Finally, we estimate the effect of the CUSFTA on the intensity of industrial lobbying for trade policy in Canada and find no relationship between preferential trade liberalization and lobbying activity. L'effet de l'Accord de libre‐échange Canada‐U.S. sur la libéralisation multilatérale du commerce canadien. Dans ce texte, on montre que les préférences tarifaires de l'accord de libre‐échange Canada‐US (ALECUS) ont déclenché un déclin dans le niveau des droits de douane externes canadiens, et expliquent une réduction de deux points de pourcentage dans le tarif moyen entre 1989 et 1998. Ensuite, on découvre que les industries qui génèrent le moins de rentes des exportations vers les États‐Unis font l'expérience de réduction de tarifs plus importante au Canada. Ce résultat révèle une coopération dans les politiques commerciales entre Canada et États‐Unis. Enfin, on évalue l'effet de l'ALECUS sur l'intensité du lobbying industriel à propos de la politique commerciale au Canada, et on découvre qu'il n'existe pas de relation entre la libération préférentielle du commerce et l'intensité de l'activité de lobbying.

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  • Joseph Mai & Andrey Stoyanov, 2015. "The effect of the Canada‐US Free Trade Agreement on Canadian multilateral trade liberalization," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 48(3), pages 1067-1098, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:canjec:v:48:y:2015:i:3:p:1067-1098
    DOI: 10.1111/caje.12168
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    Cited by:

    1. Jianxing Lyu & Sören Prehn & Yanjie Zhang & Thomas Glauben & Yinchu Zeng, 2021. "Trade creation, political sensitivity and product exclusions: the political economy of agriculture protection in China’s FTAs," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 65(3), pages 627-657, July.
    2. 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.
    3. Yanase, Akihiko & Tsubuku, Masafumi, 2022. "Trade costs and free trade agreements: Implications for tariff complementarity and welfare," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 23-37.
    4. 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.
    5. Stoyanov, Andrey & Yildiz, Halis Murat, 2015. "Preferential versus multilateral trade liberalization and the role of political economy," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 140-164.
    6. Kuenzel, David J. & Sharma, Rishi R., 2021. "Preferential trade agreements and MFN tariffs: Global evidence," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    7. 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.
    8. Andrey Stoyanov, 2016. "Regional Trade Agreements and Cross-border Lobbying: Empirical Evidence from the Canada–US Free Trade Agreement Negotiations," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(1), pages 126-149, February.
    9. Ketterer, Tobias D. & Bernhofen, Daniel & Milner, Chris, 2014. "Preferences, rent destruction and multilateral liberalization: The building block effect of CUSFTA," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(1), pages 63-77.
    10. Ornelas, Emanuel & Tovar, Patricia, 2022. "Intra-bloc tariffs and preferential margins in trade agreements," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    11. Elie Appelbaum & Mark Melatos, 2018. "Are Customs Unions Really So Scarce?," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 94(307), pages 391-404, December.
    12. Mai, Joseph & Stoyanov, Andrey, 2018. "Tariff Cooperation in Free Trade Areas," MPRA Paper 84398, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    13. Maria Cipollina & Luca Salvatici, 2022. "The Dark Matter of Bilateral Preferential Margins: An Assessment of the Effect of US Tariffs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-16, April.
    14. Lake, James & Linask, Maia K., 2016. "Could tariffs be pro-cyclical?," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 124-146.
    15. 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).
    16. Erik Figueiredo & Luiz Renato Lima, 2020. "Do economic integration agreements affect trade predictability? A group effect analysis," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 53(2), pages 637-664, May.

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    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations

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