The Role of Digital Services Trade Restrictiveness in Exports: Before and During COVID–19

Abstract

Digital technology has penetrated various fields, including international trade. This study aims to analyze how barriers/openness to trade in digital services affected exports before the COVID–19 pandemic (2015–2016) and during the pandemic (2019–2020). Based on the Gravity model, exports seem to be influenced by digital services trade restrictiveness, including infrastructure and connectivity restrictions (X1), electronic transaction restrictions (X2), and other restrictions (X3). The panel data regression equation was used to analyze data from various countries (European 17 countries, Asian 8 countries, and Latin American 3 countries) sourced from OECD Statistical Data. The selection of sample countries was based on data availability and homogeneity. The results showed that the effect of digital services trade restrictiveness on exports was low before the pandemic and increased during the pandemic era. Prior to the pandemic, restrictions on electronic transactions had a weak and negative impact on exports; meanwhile, during the pandemic, all restrictions impacted exports, except for other restrictions. In the pandemic era, restrictions on infrastructure & connectivity had a negative impact, but restrictions on electronic transactions had a positive impact on exports due to a decline in global exports and several countries reducing restrictions on electronic transactions.