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Did APEC's Trade Facilitation Action Plans deliver the goods?

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  • Shepherd, Ben

Abstract

This paper uses new data to examine whether APEC achieved its aim of reducing trade transaction costs by 10% over the 2002–2010 period. An inversion of the familiar gravity model makes it possible to infer trade costs based on the observed pattern of trade and production across economies. Analysis of trade costs calculated in this way shows that although intra- and extra-APEC trade costs fell during the sample period, they did not do so substantially more quickly than elsewhere in the world. Indeed, the region taken as a whole did not meet the 10% reduction goal. However, a considerable number of individual economies not only met the goal, they greatly exceeded it. Consistent with their outward oriented development strategies and leverage of global and regional value chains, some APEC economies saw very rapid falls in their trade costs over the 2002–2010 period, Viet Nam being a standout performer. Overall, about one third of the forum's membership for which consistent data are available met or exceeded the 10% reduction goal. APEC's two Trade Facilitation Action Plans can therefore be seen as having had mixed records of success.

Suggested Citation

  • Shepherd, Ben, 2016. "Did APEC's Trade Facilitation Action Plans deliver the goods?," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 1-11.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:asieco:v:43:y:2016:i:c:p:1-11
    DOI: 10.1016/j.asieco.2016.01.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Thomas Chaney, 2008. "Distorted Gravity: The Intensive and Extensive Margins of International Trade," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 98(4), pages 1707-1721, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jaime DE MELO & Ben SHEPHERD, 2018. "The Economics of Non-Tariff Measures: A Primer," Working Papers P212, FERDI.
    2. Valenzuela-Klagges, Bárbara & Corvalán-Quiroz, Alejandro & Fuenzalida-O'Shee, Darcy, 2018. "Trade facilitation and its effects on Chile’s bilateral trade between 2006 and 2014," Revista CEPAL, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), April.

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    JEL classification:

    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration

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