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The impact of AFTA on intra-AFTA trade

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  • Okabe, Misa
  • Urata, Shujiro

Abstract

ASEAN countries have liberalised intra-ASEAN trade over the last 20 years by establishing the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA). This paper aims to examine the impact of trade liberalisation under AFTA on intra-ASEAN trade. By applying a gravity model, we find positive and significant trade creation effects from the tariff elimination for a wide range of products. In addition, the analysis reveals that the elasticity of tariff reduction on imports tends to be much larger than that on exports. Trade creation effects for the new ASEAN members are relatively small compared to those for the old members. Our results show that AFTA has been successful in promoting intra-AFTA trade, while we argue that further expansion may be achieved by increasing the use of AFTA and by reducing/removing non-tariff measures (NTMs) through such ways as improving customs procedures and harmonizing/mutually recognizing product standards.

Suggested Citation

  • Okabe, Misa & Urata, Shujiro, 2014. "The impact of AFTA on intra-AFTA trade," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 12-31.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:asieco:v:35:y:2014:i:c:p:12-31
    DOI: 10.1016/j.asieco.2014.09.004
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    2. Suhas Jadhav & Ishita Ghosh, 2024. "Future Prospects of the Gravity Model of Trade: A Bibliometric Review (1993–2021)," Foreign Trade Review, , vol. 59(1), pages 26-61, February.
    3. Farhat Mahmood & Juthathip Jongwanich, 2018. "Export-enhancing Effects of Free Trade Agreements in South Asia," Journal of South Asian Development, , vol. 13(1), pages 24-53, April.
    4. Rudi Purwono & Lilik Sugiharti & Rossanto Dwi Handoyo & Miguel Angel Esquivias, 2022. "Trade Liberalization and Comparative Advantage: Evidence from Indonesia and Asian Trade Partners," Economies, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-21, March.
    5. Medalla, Erlinda M. & Mantaring, Melalyn C., 2017. "Review of Intra-ASEAN Nontariff Measures on Trade in Goods," Discussion Papers DP 2017-18, Philippine Institute for Development Studies.
    6. Ponciano INTAL Jr, 2015. "AEC Blueprint Implementation Performance and Challenges: Trade Facilitation," Working Papers DP-2015-41, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA).
    7. Setyastuti, Rini & Adiningsih, Sri & Widodo, Tri, 2018. "The Dynamics of Comparative Advantage in the ASEAN Region," MPRA Paper 86541, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Jorge Luis Sanchez Arevalo & Edgard Monforte Merlo, 2020. "Social-economic Analysis of Physical Integration between Brazil and Peru: Focus for the Regions Linked to the Interoceanic Highway," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 10(3), pages 102-110.
    9. Setyastuti, Rini & Adiningsih, Sri & Widodo, Tri, 2018. "ASEAN Economic Community: Theoretical versus Practical Economic Integration," MPRA Paper 86919, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Tien Dzung Nguyen, 2018. "Do trade agreements increase Vietnam's exports to RCEP markets?," Asian-Pacific Economic Literature, The Crawford School, The Australian National University, vol. 32(1), pages 94-107, May.
    11. Dayang Affizzah Awang Marikan & Mohammad Affendy Arip & Jaber Khan & Hazlin Hamzah, 2020. "Malaysia and RCEP Countries: Gain or Pain?," Journal of Asian Scientific Research, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 10(3), pages 213-221, September.
    12. Ekaterina Y. ARAPOVA, 2017. "Ex-Post Analysis Of The Influence Of Tariff Liberalisation On Asean Exports," Applied Econometrics and International Development, Euro-American Association of Economic Development, vol. 17(2), pages 135-154.
    13. Amat Adarov & Mahdi Ghodsi, 2021. "The impact of the Eurasian Economic Union–Iran preferential trade agreement on mutual trade at aggregate and sectoral levels," Eurasian Economic Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 11(1), pages 125-157, March.
    14. Kiyota, Kozo, 2022. "The COVID-19 pandemic and the world trade network," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    15. Pousseni Bakouan & Mahamadou Diarra & Idrissa M. Ouedraogo, 2024. "How Can Tariff Elimination and Trade Facilitation Affect East African Economies?," Foreign Trade Review, , vol. 59(1), pages 117-145, February.
    16. Vaishnavi venkatesh & Ranajoy Bhattacharyya, 2014. "The ASEAN Free Trade Agreement:How Effective?," Working Papers 1425, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade.
    17. Ramstetter, Eric D. & Archanun, Kohpaiboon, 2015. "The Effects of the ASEAN Economic Community 2015 on Industries in Kitakyushu and Shimonoseki," AGI Working Paper Series 2015-04, Asian Growth Research Institute.
    18. Karemera, David & Guah, Mathew & Smalls, Gerald & Whitesides, Louis, 2023. "A Re-Examination of the Benefits of Trade Agreements on Agricultural Exports and the Impact of the 2008 Great Recession," International Journal of Food and Agricultural Economics (IJFAEC), Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, Department of Economics and Finance, vol. 11(3), July.
    19. Kee-hung Lai & Yu Pang & Christina W. Y. Wong & Y. H. Venus Lun & Y. N. Eppie Ng, 2019. "Are trade and transport logistics activities mutually reinforcing? Some empirical evidences from ASEAN countries," Journal of Shipping and Trade, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 1-17, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    F13; F15; O19; ASEAN Free Trade Area; Intra-regional trade; Gravity model; Trade creation effect;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration
    • O19 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - International Linkages to Development; Role of International Organizations

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