Hidden protectionism? Evidence from non-tariff barriers to trade in the United States

Robert Grundke and Christoph Moser

Journal of International Economics, 2019, vol. 117, issue C, 143-157

Abstract: Can the enforcement of product standards be protectionism in disguise? This paper estimates the costs of non-compliance with U.S. product standards, using a new database on U.S. import refusals from 2002 to 2014. We find that import refusals decrease exports to the United States. This trade reducing effect is driven by developing countries and by refusals without any product sample analysis, in particular during the Subprime Crisis and its aftermath. We also provide evidence that given product standards were enforced more strictly during the crisis while the quality of imported products did not deteriorate. These results are consistent with the existence of counter-cyclical, hidden protectionism due to non-tariff barriers to trade in the United States.

Keywords: Hidden protectionism; International trade; Developing countries; Import refusals; Regulatory costs; Disaggregated; United States (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F13 F14 F63 O24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (44)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Hidden Protectionism? Evidence from Non-tariff Barriers to Trade in the United States (2016)
Working Paper: Hidden Protectionism? Evidence from Non-tariff Barriers to Trade in the United States (2014)
Working Paper: Hidden Protectionism? Evidence from Non-tariff Barriers to Trade in the United States (2014)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:inecon:v:117:y:2019:i:c:p:143-157

DOI: 10.1016/j.jinteco.2018.12.007

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