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The puzzle of quality upgrading of Chinese exports from the trade liberalization perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Xianhai Huang
  • Kun Liu
  • Hangyu Chen

Abstract

Trade liberalization could accelerate the process of quality upgrading through the competition effect. However, that the quality of Chinese exports exhibits an opposite performance pattern is puzzling. The present paper uses a framework based on multiproduct firms to analyse the mechanism of how the product quality of exports is affected by trade liberalization to explain this puzzle. The model includes two major mechanisms: the competition effect and the market effect. There is a huge gap in the influence on the product quality of exports between a decrease in tariff barriers and non‐tariff barriers: firms' product quality increases (decreases) when non‐tariff barriers (tariff barriers) fall. The data of Chinese firms from 2001 to 2011 supports this conclusion. Further research reveals that the influence of trade liberalization on the product quality of exports in China varies among different types of firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Xianhai Huang & Kun Liu & Hangyu Chen, 2020. "The puzzle of quality upgrading of Chinese exports from the trade liberalization perspective," Pacific Economic Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(2), pages 161-184, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:pacecr:v:25:y:2020:i:2:p:161-184
    DOI: 10.1111/1468-0106.12330
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Julan Du & Gaoju Yang & Hugh Dang, 2020. "Special issue on foreign trade and investment in China’s continuing economic opening and the Belt and Road Initiative," Pacific Economic Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(2), pages 121-126, May.
    2. Lei Liu & Kai He & Yi Qiao & Peilin Fu & Qinggang Meng, 2023. "Entrepreneurship and Export Product Quality Improvement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-20, August.
    3. Feng Zhang & Jiao Zhang & Wei Xing & Yan Xu, 2025. "Sustainable Regional Development Under Demographic Transition: Labor Market Integration and Export Quality Enhancement in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-29, September.
    4. Muhamad Rias K. V. Zainuddin & Tamat Sarmidi & Norlin Khalid, 2020. "Sustainable Production, Non-Tariff Measures, and Trade Performance in RCEP Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-12, November.

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