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Brexit: Trade diversion due to trade policy uncertainty

Author

Listed:
  • Eduardo Gutiérrez

    (Banco de España)

  • Aitor Lacuesta

    (Banco de España)

  • César Martín Machuca

    (Banco de España)

Abstract

During the long process of negotiation after the 2016 Brexit referendum there was a high uncertainty about the final shape of bilateral trade relations between the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK), especially for particular sectors and firms. Given this context, the paper explores whether a fraction of Spanish trade with the UK was diverted to other markets after the referendum as a function of Spanish firms’ exposition to the British market. The paper shows that firms more exposed to that particular market (above 10% of foreign sales and purchases) were able to almost fully divert the shock in their sales and purchases, mostly to other European countries. Instead, there was an heterogeneous responses of Spanish firms with a low share of British bilateral flows over total trade. Given a particular share, trade diversion appears to be more limited for imports relative to exports and for big companies.

Suggested Citation

  • Eduardo Gutiérrez & Aitor Lacuesta & César Martín Machuca, 2021. "Brexit: Trade diversion due to trade policy uncertainty," Working Papers 2140, Banco de España.
  • Handle: RePEc:bde:wpaper:2140
    as

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    File URL: https://www.bde.es/f/webbde/SES/Secciones/Publicaciones/PublicacionesSeriadas/DocumentosTrabajo/21/Files/dt2140e.pdf
    File Function: First version, November 2021
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

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    2. Eckhard Janeba & Karl Schulz, 2024. "A Theory Of Economic Disintegration," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 65(1), pages 353-392, February.
    3. Iván Kataryniuk & Javier Pérez & Francesca Viani, 2021. "(De-)Globalisation of trade and regionalisation: a survey of the facts and arguments," Occasional Papers 2124, Banco de España.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    policy uncertainty; Brexit; trade diversion;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F02 - International Economics - - General - - - International Economic Order and Integration
    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration
    • F61 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization - - - Microeconomic Impacts
    • F68 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization - - - Policy

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