International trade and letters of credit: A double-edged sword in times of crises

Banu Demir, Matthieu Crozet and Beata Javorcik

No 16630, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: This study argues that the ability to mitigate risks associated with international trade is particularly important at times of heightened uncertainty, such as the economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Risk mitigation can be achieved through letters of credit (LCs), trade finance instruments providing guarantees to trading partners. As their use varies across products, exports of some products are more resilient than others during times of increased uncertainty. This situation reverses in times of financial crises when distressed banks may limit the supply of LCs. Our analysis using data on US and EU-15 exports during the Covid crisis and the Global Financial Crisis provides empirical support for these hypotheses.

Keywords: International trade; Trade finance; Letter of credit; Risk; Global financial crisis; Covid-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F14 F23 G01 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021-10
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Related works:
Journal Article: International Trade and Letters of Credit: A Double-Edged Sword in Times of Crises (2022)
Working Paper: International Trade and Letters of Credit: A Double-Edged Sword in Times of Crises (2022)
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