Although the GATT prohibits discriminatory import tariffs, it includes means for circumventing this prohibition. The previous literature uses static models and discriminatory tariffs increase welfare. In a dynamic model, if governments lack the ability to precommit, this is not necessarily true. For example, with consumer switching costs, tariffs are higher for firms with higher market share. Rationally expecting such policies, firms price less aggressively. If switching costs are significant relative to asymmetries, then higher prices can result in lower importing country welfare. Thus it may be in interests of importers to abide by the GATT MFN principle.
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Paper provided by EconWPA in its series International Trade with number
9602001.
Length: 14 pages Date of creation: 10 Feb 1996 Date of revision:
28 Nov 1998 Handle: RePEc:wpa:wuwpit:9602001
Note: forthcoming in Candian Journal of Economics; Type of Document - LaTeX; prepared on IBM PC; to print on any; pages: 14; figures: none Contact details of provider: Web page: http://129.3.20.41
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Find related papers by JEL classification: F12 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Models of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Scale Economies F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
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