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The impact of destination tariffs on China’s exports: Country, firm, and product perspectives

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  • Xu, Tongsheng
  • Li, Weiwei
  • Jiang, Yulian
  • Chen, Ya

Abstract

Based on multi-product heterogeneous firm trade theory, we combine China's customs data with the World Integrated Trade Solution’s (WITS) tariff data from 2002 to 2013 and analyze the impact of destination tariffs on China's exports at the country, firm, and product levels. The results reveal that tariffs had a negative effect on country-level exports and their extensive margins. After controlling for the inter-firm composition effect, tariffs had negative effects on firm-level exports and their intensive margins, but positive effects on their extensive margins. After also controlling for the within-firm export composition effect, tariffs had a negative impact on the exports of core products; however, the negative impact diminished as the core grade and technological content of the products increased. Using these elasticities to analyze Sino-U.S. trade frictions, we determine that the additional U.S. tariffs reduced China's exports of high-tech products more than its medium- and low-tech products.

Suggested Citation

  • Xu, Tongsheng & Li, Weiwei & Jiang, Yulian & Chen, Ya, 2020. "The impact of destination tariffs on China’s exports: Country, firm, and product perspectives," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:asieco:v:71:y:2020:i:c:s1049007820301263
    DOI: 10.1016/j.asieco.2020.101246
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    Cited by:

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    5. Yuping Deng & Yanrui Wu & Helian Xu, 2022. "Emission Reduction and Value-added Export Nexus at Firm Level," Economics Discussion / Working Papers 22-19, The University of Western Australia, Department of Economics.
    6. Chen Chen & Nimesh Salike & Willem Thorbecke, 2023. "Exchange rate effects on China's exports: Product sophistication and exchange rate elasticity," Asian Economic Journal, East Asian Economic Association, vol. 37(3), pages 371-400, September.
    7. Cai, Shu & Shi, Xinzheng & Xu, Zhufeng, 2024. "Migration networks, export shocks, and human capital acquisition: Evidence from China," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(2), pages 568-589.
    8. Phouphet Kyophilavong & Kazunobu Hayakawa, 2024. "Impacts of Trade Liberalization in the Least Developed Countries: Evidence From Lao PDR," The Developing Economies, Institute of Developing Economies, vol. 62(1), pages 45-67, March.
    9. Chen, Lili & Guo, Shaoyu & Lu, Jian & Gerschewski, Stephan, 2021. "Outward FDI and efficiency in within-firm resource allocation – Evidence from firm-level data of China," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    10. Yuping Deng & Yanrui Wu & Helian Xu, 2023. "Emission reduction and value‐added export nexus at firm level," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(6), pages 1670-1710, June.

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    JEL classification:

    • F11 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Neoclassical Models of Trade
    • F12 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Models of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Scale Economies; Fragmentation
    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations

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