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On The Importance Of Market Access For Trade

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  • Marco Fugazza
  • Alessandro Nicita

Abstract

One of the consequences of the proliferation of preferential trade agreements is that an increasing share of international trade is not subject to the most favoured nation (MFN) tariff, but enters markets through preferential access. Preferential access affects trade because, by providing some countries with a relative advantage, it is essentially a discriminatory practice. This paper examines the extent to which preferential access affects bilateral trade flows. The empirical approach consists first in providing two indices: one summarizing direct market access conditions (the overall tariff faced by exports) and one measuring relative market access conditions (the overall tariff faced by exports relative to that faced by competitors). Then, the indices are used in a gravity model in order to estimate how changes in market access conditions affect international trade. Although those conditions are generally more important, the results indicate that the relative advantage provided by the structure of preferences also affects the magnitude of bilateral trade flows. That is, bilateral trade flows depend on the advantage provided by the system of preferences over other competitors.

Suggested Citation

  • Marco Fugazza & Alessandro Nicita, 2011. "On The Importance Of Market Access For Trade," UNCTAD Blue Series Papers 50, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
    • Handle: RePEc:unc:blupap:50
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    References listed on IDEAS

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