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How iPhone Widens the US Trade Deficits with the PRC?

Author

Listed:
  • Yuqing Xing

    (National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies)

  • Neal Detert

    (Asian Development Bank Institute)

Abstract

IIn this paper, we use the iPhone as a case to show that even high-tech products invented by American companies will not increase the US exports, but to the contrary exacerbate the US trade deficits. The iPhone contributed US$1.9 billion about 0.8% of the US trade deficit with PRC in 2009. Unprecedented globalization, well organized global production networks, repaid development of cross-country production fragmentation, and low transportation costs all contribute to rational firms such as Apple making business decisions that contributed directly to the US trade deficit. Global production networks and highly specialized production processes apparently reverse conventional trade patterns so that developing countries, such as PRC, export high-tech goods?like the iPhone while industrialized countries, such as the US, import high-tech goods they themselves invented. In addition, conventional trade statistics greatly inflate bilateral trade deficits between a country used as export-platform by multinational firms and its destination countries. Based on the value-added approach, the iphone trade would generate US$48 million trade surplus for the US.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuqing Xing & Neal Detert, 2010. "How iPhone Widens the US Trade Deficits with the PRC?," GRIPS Discussion Papers 10-21, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:ngi:dpaper:10-21
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    Blog mentions

    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. L'iPhone dégrade la balance commerciale des Etats-Unis !
      by contact@captaineconomics.fr (Le Captain') in Captain Economics on 2012-09-04 05:00:00

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    Cited by:

    1. Xiao Jiang & William Milberg, 2013. "Capturing the jobs from globalization: trade and employment in global value chains," Global Development Institute Working Paper Series ctg-2013-30, GDI, The University of Manchester.
    2. Muhammad Zeshan, 2021. "Double-hit scenario of Covid-19 and global value chains," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 8559-8572, June.
    3. Xing Yuqing, 2016. "Global Value Chains and New Thinking on Trade and Industrial Policy," GRIPS Discussion Papers 16-07, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies.
    4. Xing, Yuqing, 2020. "Global value chains and the “missing exports” of the United States," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    5. Evert Meijers & Martijn Burger & Masahisa Fujita & Nobuaki Hamaguchi, 2016. "Supply chain internationalization in East Asia: Inclusiveness and risks," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 95(1), pages 81-100, March.
    6. Laura Alfaro & Pol Antràs & Davin Chor & Paola Conconi, 2019. "Internalizing Global Value Chains: A Firm-Level Analysis," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 127(2), pages 508-559.
    7. Xing, Yuqing & Huang, Shaopeng, 2021. "Value captured by China in the smartphone GVC– A tale of three smartphone handsets," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 256-266.
    8. Yao, Yang, 2014. "The Chinese Growth Miracle," Handbook of Economic Growth, in: Philippe Aghion & Steven Durlauf (ed.), Handbook of Economic Growth, edition 1, volume 2, chapter 7, pages 943-1031, Elsevier.
    9. Robert Stehrer, 2012. "Trade in Value Added and the Valued Added in Trade," wiiw Working Papers 81, The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw.
    10. Ya Liu & Yuhuan Zhao & Hao Li & Song Wang & Yongfeng Zhang & Ye Cao, 2018. "Economic Benefits and Environmental Costs of China's Exports: A Comparison with the USA Based on Network Analysis," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 26(4), pages 106-132, July.
    11. Yuqing Xing, 2016. "Global Value Chains and China's Exports to High-income Countries," International Economic Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(2), pages 191-203, June.
    12. Yuqing Xing & Yuzhen He, 2018. "Domestic Value Added of Chinese Brand Mobile Phones," GRIPS Discussion Papers 18-09, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies.
    13. Richard Pomfret & Richard Pomfret, 2014. "Expanding the Division of Labour: Trade Costs and Supply Chains in the Global Economy," Australian Economic History Review, Economic History Society of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 54(3), pages 220-241, November.
    14. repec:era:wpaper:dp-2015-51 is not listed on IDEAS
    15. Murat A. Yülek & Gilberto Santos, 2022. "Why Income Gaps Persist: Productivity Gaps, (No-)Catch-up and Industrial Policies in Developing Countries," Journal of Economic Issues, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(1), pages 158-183, January.
    16. Enrique Martínez-Galán & Maria Paula Fontoura, 2016. "GGlobal Value Chains assessment in the 2000s: an approach with income transfers," Working Papers Department of Economics 2016/15, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, Department of Economics, Universidade de Lisboa.
    17. Zhao, Yuhuan & Liu, Ya & Qiao, Xiaoyong & Wang, Song & Zhang, Zhonghua & Zhang, Yongfeng & Li, Hao, 2018. "Tracing value added in gross exports of China: Comparison with the USA, Japan, Korea, and India based on generalized LMDI," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 24-44.
    18. Xing, Yuqing, 2012. "The People’s Republic of China’s High-tech Exports: Myth and Reality," ADBI Working Papers 357, Asian Development Bank Institute.
    19. Xiao, Yangao & Tylecote, Andrew & Liu, Jiajia, 2013. "Why not greater catch-up by Chinese firms? The impact of IPR, corporate governance and technology intensity on late-comer strategies," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 749-764.
    20. Yuqing Xing & Manisha Pradhananga, 2013. "How Important is Exports and FDI for China's Economic Growth?," GRIPS Discussion Papers 13-04, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies.
    21. Xiao Jiang & William Milberg, 2012. "Vertical specialization and industrial upgrading: a preliminary note," Global Development Institute Working Paper Series ctg-2012-10, GDI, The University of Manchester.
    22. Laura Dell'Agostino, 2017. "Italy’S Participation In International Supply And Production Networks Using Value Added Trade Data," Departmental Working Papers of Economics - University 'Roma Tre' 0228, Department of Economics - University Roma Tre.

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