Effects of Bilateralism and the MFN Clause on International Trade – Evidence for the Cobden-Chevalier Network, (1860-1875)

Markus Lampe

No 209, CQE Working Papers from Center for Quantitative Economics (CQE), University of Muenster

Abstract: This study contributes to a revised picture of nineteenth-century bilateralism. Employing a new disaggregated dataset, it argues that bilateral treaties did not implement general free trade, but instead reduced tariffs unevenly through commodity-specific preferences, especially favoring manufactured goods. Gravity model estimates show that specific liberalizations translated into systematic increases in exports of corresponding items, but not overall trade. Exporters of countries whose governments used bilateralism strategically to bring down partner tariffs benefitted most. Hence, the network in form and outcome is more properly identified with reciprocal liberalization practiced by the French than with British free trade ideology.

Keywords: preferential trade agreements; Anglo-French treaty; bilateralism; liberalisation; gravity model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F13 N73 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 42 pages
Date: 2009-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-his and nep-int
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (31)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Effects of Bilateralism and the MFN Clause on International Trade: Evidence for the Cobden-Chevalier Network, 1860-1875 (2009)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cqe:wpaper:0209

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