IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/ces/ceswps/_12923.html

Access to Standards, Access to Markets: ISO Access, Quality Infrastructure, and International Trade

Author

Listed:
  • Christian Lessmann
  • Zhixiao Yao

Abstract

This paper studies whether access to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) matters for trade and through which margin. Building on historical ISO membership information and a domestic-inclusive structural gravity framework for 185 trading partners from 1980 to 2016, the paper distinguishes one-sided ISO access from joint ISO access. Trade involving one ISO access country is about 63 percent higher than trade between countries without ISO access. The main empirical signal comes from this one-sided margin rather than from an additional joint access premium. The effect is more visible when the ISO access country is the exporter, and country level evidence on ISO certification uptake is consistent with an exporter-side standardization and certification-capacity channel. The paper identifies ISO access as an upstream quality infrastructure channel of trade. The findings imply that standardization and certification capacity can help countries overcome non-tariff barriers and upgrade exports.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Lessmann & Zhixiao Yao, 2026. "Access to Standards, Access to Markets: ISO Access, Quality Infrastructure, and International Trade," CESifo Working Paper Series 12923, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_12923
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.ifo.de/DocDL/cesifo1_wp12923.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yang, Zhiqing & Liu, Peiyao & Luo, Lianfa, 2023. "Growing exports through ISO 9001 quality certification: Firm-level evidence from Chinese agri-food sectors," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    2. Alla Lileeva & Daniel Trefler, 2010. "Improved Access to Foreign Markets Raises Plant-level Productivity…For Some Plants," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 125(3), pages 1051-1099.
    3. Bas, Maria & Strauss-Kahn, Vanessa, 2015. "Input-trade liberalization, export prices and quality upgrading," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(2), pages 250-262.
    4. Martin Kellermann, 2019. "Ensuring Quality to Gain Access to Global Markets," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 31334, October.
    5. Tim Büthe & Walter Mattli, 2011. "The New Global Rulers: The Privatization of Regulation in the World Economy," Economics Books, Princeton University Press, edition 1, number 9470, December.
    6. Peter H. Egger & Mario Larch & Yoto V. Yotov, 2022. "Gravity Estimations with Interval Data: Revisiting the Impact of Free Trade Agreements," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 89(353), pages 44-61, January.
    7. Eric A. Verhoogen, 2008. "Trade, Quality Upgrading, and Wage Inequality in the Mexican Manufacturing Sector," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 123(2), pages 489-530.
    8. Baier, Scott L. & Yotov, Yoto V. & Zylkin, Thomas, 2019. "On the widely differing effects of free trade agreements: Lessons from twenty years of trade integration," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 206-226.
    9. Javorcik, Beata & Sawada, Naotaka, 2018. "The ISO 9000 certification: Little pain, big gain?," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 103-114.
    10. Lisandra Flach & Hannah-Maria Hildenbrand & Feodora Teti, 2021. "The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and Its Expected Effects on World Trade," Intereconomics: Review of European Economic Policy, Springer;ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics;Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), vol. 56(2), pages 92-98, March.
    11. Goedhuys, Micheline & Sleuwaegen, Leo, 2013. "The Impact of International Standards Certification on the Performance of Firms in Less Developed Countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 87-101.
    12. Jean-Louis Racine & J. Luis Guasch & Isabel Sánchez & Makhtar Diop, 2007. "Quality Systems and Standards for a Competitive Edge," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 6768, October.
    13. Eicher, Theo S. & Henn, Christian, 2011. "In search of WTO trade effects: Preferential trade agreements promote trade strongly, but unevenly," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(2), pages 137-153, March.
    14. Baier, Scott L. & Bergstrand, Jeffrey H., 2007. "Do free trade agreements actually increase members' international trade?," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(1), pages 72-95, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. DeStefano, Timothy & Timmis, Jonathan, 2024. "Robots and export quality," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    2. Cheong, Juyoung, 2023. "Do preferential trade agreements stimulate high-tech exports for low-income countries?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    3. Mario Larch & Jeff Luckstead & Yoto V. Yotov, 2024. "Economic sanctions and agricultural trade," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 106(4), pages 1477-1517, August.
    4. Silviano Esteve‐Pérez & Salvador Gil‐Pareja & Rafael Llorca‐Vivero & Jordi Paniagua, 2026. "Has the Euro Paid Off? A Study of the Trade‐Induced Welfare Effects of the EMU," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 58(3), pages 705-737, April.
    5. Yoto V. Yotov, 2024. "The evolution of structural gravity: The workhorse model of trade," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 42(4), pages 578-603, October.
    6. Krishna, Kala & Salamanca, Carlos & Suzuki, Yuta & Volpe Martincus, Christian, 2025. "Learning to use trade agreements," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    7. Wang, Xiaozhuo & Yang, Guang, 2025. "Does being embedded in RTA networks promote firm productivity? Evidence from Chinese firms," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    8. Mohammad Amin & Caroline Nogueira, 2025. "Does Competition from Informal Firms Encourage the Formal Firms to Obtain Quality Certificates ?," Policy Research Working Paper Series 11023, The World Bank.
    9. Blind, Knut & Mangelsdorf, Axel & Pohlisch, Jakob, 2018. "The effects of cooperation in accreditation on international trade: Empirical evidence on ISO 9000 certifications," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 50-59.
    10. Silviano Esteve-Pérez & Salvador Gil-Pareja & Rafael Llorca-Vivero, 2020. "Does the GATT/WTO promote trade? After all, Rose was right," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 156(2), pages 377-405, May.
    11. Beniamino Quintieri & Giovanni Stamato, 2023. "Are preferential agreements beneficial to EU trade? New evidence from the EU–South Korea treaty," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(12), pages 3511-3541, December.
    12. Gabriel Felbermayr & Mario Larch & Erdal Yalcin & Yoto V. Yotov, 2024. "On the heterogeneous trade and welfare effects of GATT/WTO membership," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 160(3), pages 983-1008, August.
    13. Maria Bas & Vanessa Strauss-Kahn, 2024. "Lower prices or higher quality? Firms’ response to increased competition following trade liberalization," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 160(2), pages 279-309, May.
    14. Gabriel Felbermayr & Constantinos Syropoulos & Erdal Yalcin & Yoto V. Yotov, 2025. "On the heterogeneous effects of sanctions on trade," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 58(1), pages 247-280, February.
    15. Sebastian Franco Bedoya & Woori Lee, 2024. "Heterogeneous Effects of Trade Agreements in Central America : The Case of CAFTA-DR," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10951, The World Bank.
    16. Campbell, Jason, 2024. "The link between import sources and export success: Evidence from China," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    17. Lin, Qi & Lin, Xi, 2023. "Unveiling the trade and welfare effects of regional services trade agreements: A structural gravity approach," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    18. Yoshimichi Murakami, 2025. "Do deep regional trade agreements facilitate regional production networks in Latin American and Caribbean countries?," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 161(3), pages 1139-1180, August.
    19. Rod Falvey & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2022. "The breadth of preferential trade agreements and the margins of exports," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 158(1), pages 181-251, February.
    20. Erdal Yalcin & Gabriel Felbermayr & Heider Kariem & Aleksandra Kirilakha & Ohyun Kwon & Constantinos Syropoulos & Yoto V. Yotov, 2025. "The Global Sanctions Data Base—Release 4: The Heterogeneous Effects of the Sanctions on Russia," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(9), pages 2003-2017, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration
    • F53 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - International Agreements and Observance; International Organizations
    • L15 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Information and Product Quality
    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_12923. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Klaus Wohlrabe (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/cesifde.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.