International Trade Research Articles

India-APEC trade relations: prospects for cooperation in the Asia Pacific region

India has expressed interest in joining the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum since 1991. Over the past two decades, India’s trade relations with the APEC region have increased significantly. The trade relationship between India and APEC is examined using a gravity model of international trade. The gravity equations have been analysed separately for advanced and emerging and low-income developing economies of APEC by utilising both the poisson pseudo maximum likelihood (PPML) and ordinary least squares (OLS) estimators with several panel specifications. The results show that the majority of the underlying variables exhibit statistical significance. The study suggested that there is an increasing importance of the APEC region for India to promote its export-led growth strategy, as it provides enormous potential for its trade expansion. India’s membership in the APEC would not only boost India’s trade competitiveness in the region, but also provide an opportunity to reform its trade regime.

The Examination of the Effects of FDI on International Trade of the ASEAN Economic Community

The examination of the effects of foreign direct investment on international trade and trade balance was conducted within the member states of the ASEAN Economic Community, which include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, covering the period from 2001 to 2022. To derive empirical insights, various static panel data models were employed, specifically the Pooled Ordinary Least Squares, Fixed Effect, and Random Effect models. In addition to FDI, the analysis incorporated three key variables: the real GDP growth rate, inflation rate, and foreign exchange rate, to evaluate their influence on international trade. The findings of this research indicate a positive correlation between net FDI inflows and trade levels, suggesting that increased FDI contributes to enhanced trade activity. Furthermore, the results emphasize that a rise in the real GDP growth rate and a depreciation of the exchange rate can foster a favorable trade balance, while an increase in the inflation rate tends to have a detrimental effect. Consistency across all panel data models was observed, with the Hausman test indicating that the Random Effect model is the most suitable for this analysis.

DSB's General Rules in Dealing with Tariffs on Similar Imported Products and Their Implications for Domestic Practices: Taking the WTO Chilean Wine Duty Case as an Entry Point

The principle of national treatment ensures that foreign nationals receive(natural persons, legal persons, or things) economic treatment comparable to that given to a states nationals. In international trade, national treatment is reflected primarily in the taxation of imported goods of the same kind (including but not limited to substitutable and directly competitive goods). A lack of uniform standards exists in defining similar goods, and the WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) mainly considers the identification of similar products in terms of their use, substitution elasticity, physical characteristics, consumer preferences, sales channels, prices, tariff categories, etc., and at the same time, it needs to take into account the potential competition. On the other hand, the identification of different taxes is mainly based on the different tax principle, and the determination of different taxation is mainly judged by whether it is more than a minor difference and whether it provides protection for domestic production. This lack of codified standards contributes to disputes regarding the application of the national treatment principle. Through the introduction and analysis of the Chilean Wine Duty case combined with the opinions of the Panel and the Appellate Body, this paper will try to draw the general rules of the DSB in dealing with similar cases, and use them to guide China's future practice, to playing the role of a large developing country on the road of international trade

International business education experiences through temporary learning environments: evidence from Atlantic Canada

Purpose International environments introduce a number of learning-related barriers for students endeavoring to understand global business practices. One way in which these obstacles can be addressed is through participation in temporary learning environments (TLEs), such as trade fairs and similar events. This paper aims to examine how international trade missions (ITMs) – a type of short-term, study-abroad experience – were used as TLEs by students at an Atlantic Canada university as part of their EMBA curriculum to gain practical experience in international business environments. Design/methodology/approach This study explores the ways in which students benefitted from participation in the ITMs and resulting TLEs. Accordingly, an online survey that explored export-related issues and learning outcomes was administered to EMBA students who participated in this program to ascertain the ways in which these events furthered their educational experience and how the ITMs enabled them to perceive challenges and strategies related to international market expansion. Findings A survey of ITM participants revealed that students gained insights into firm-level barriers to internationalization in addition to a practical understanding of general challenges in international trade. At the same time, some observations suggested that more emphasis could be placed on pre-trip preparations and post-trip networking. The paper concludes with discussions on how short-term study abroad opportunities can serve as TLEs, in addition to proposing future ways in which the ITMs could provide even more experiences for the students. Originality/value The value-added from this paper is found in two ways. The first is to illustrate how ITMs can be a form of a TLE for students. The second, linked contribution, is to reinforce and to provide further evidence on how the TLEs – a short study-abroad opportunity – can be an environment in which students obtain valuable, hands-on international business experience.

SOM neural network-based port function analysis: a case study in 21st-century Maritime Silk Road

The 21st-century Maritime Silk Road initiative by the Chinese government has garnered growing global attention. As pivotal facilitators of international trade, the maritime routes and ports along this route are attracting the interest of various stakeholders. There is a pressing need for extensive research to augment the existing theoretical frameworks. This paper introduces a Self-Organizing Map (SOM) neural network-based methodology for port function clustering, applied to 24 major ports spanning from the South China Sea to the ASEAN region in 2023. The clustering outcomes are cross-validated against port rankings derived from Principal Component Analysis. The study reveals several key insights: (1) Singapore Port, Hong Kong Port, Shenzhen Port, and Guangzhou Port emerge as the principal shipping hubs within the region; (2) The relationship between China and Singapore is identified as a linchpin for the sustainable development of the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road; (3) Guangdong Province is highlighted as a central economic and logistical node. Finally, the recommendations for the accelerated development of the Hainan Free Trade Port and Fujian Coastal Port is concluded.

Analyzing the Competitiveness of Indonesia's Lobster Exports: Comparative and Competitive Advantages Using RCA and ECI Indices

This research aims to analyze the competitiveness (comparative and competitive advantages) of Indonesia's lobster commodity exports. The data used in this research consists of secondary data in the form of panel data obtained from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of Indonesia, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Commodity Trade (UN Comtrade), and the International Trade Center (ITC). Comparative advantage is measured using the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) index, and competitive advantage is measured using the Export Competitiveness Index (ECI). The findings reveal that Indonesia holds a stronger comparative advantage in lobster exports compared to Vietnam, with an average RCA value of 25.46 for Indonesia and 13.08 for Vietnam. Similarly, Indonesia demonstrates higher competitive advantage, as indicated by an average ECI value of 3.57 compared to Vietnam's 3.28. However, Indonesia's ECI values have shown fluctuations in recent years, highlighting periods of declining competitive advantage due to export policies and international market conditions. The findings provide policymakers with insights to develop balanced policies that ensure both environmental sustainability and economic growth. Additionally, it highlights the critical need for ongoing, granular analysis of export dynamics, particularly in the context of the Southeast Asian market.

Evolution characteristics and invulnerability simulation analysis of global zirconium ore trade network

The burgeoning demand for zirconium, driven by the rapid development of smart devices, low-carbon energy technologies, and other emerging industries, underscores the importance of understanding the dynamics of its global trade network. However, the evolutionary patterns of the international zircon ore trade network and its resilience to disruptions remain unclear. This study constructs the international zircon ore trade network from 2013 to 2022, analyzes its structural evolution at both the network and node levels, and evaluates its robustness in 2022 using five attack strategies: random node removal, random edge removal, edge degradation, targeted removal based on node degree, and targeted removal based on node betweenness centrality. Our findings reveal that: (1) the international zircon ore trade network exhibits a shift in the import market towards Asia, with the export market dominated by Spain, the United States, and Brazil. China plays a crucial role as a bridge connecting various countries, while Japan exerts significant influence within the network; (2) the network is particularly vulnerable to targeted attacks based on node degree and betweenness centrality, highlighting the potential for significant disruption following the removal of key nodes. This study provides valuable insights for ensuring the stable and sustainable supply and consumption of zirconium resources, informing the development of targeted policies for countries and relevant industries.

Anti-Inflation Policies in the Evolution of Federico Caffè’s Economic Thought

ABSTRACT Against the background of an analysis of the inflation characterized by distributional conflicts, Caffè proposes in the 1950s and 1960s the establishment of a ‘complex treaty' to regulate industrial relations, which should include, inter alia, price controls and wage policies. Intersecting his scarcely investigated analyses in the 1970s and in the 1980s on Robinson's (1972) The Second Crisis of Economic Theory, Minsky's (1975) John Maynard Keynes and Burchardt et al. (1944) The Economics of Full Employment, the paper shows an evolution in Caffè’s elaboration from the period of the stagflation crisis onward. The paper shows that his analyses about the coexistence of full employment and price stability began to emphasize the re-articulation of the production structure through targeted public investments. Moreover, Caffè suggests the possibility of using controls on international trade, the localization of industries and the regulation of private investment. Finally, Caffè changed his position on wage moderation policies, rejecting their use. Caffè's analysis during the 1970s-80s marks a radical alternative to the return of unemployment and the redistribution of income to the detriment of labor.

Research on the Impact of Certification-Related Reforms on Students’ Abilities Based on the Regression Discontinuity Design

Based on the survey data of international economics and trade majors in Guangzhou City University of Technology, this paper uses regression discontinuity design (RDD) to select indicators such as teamwork, business knowledge, analysis and technology to conduct a comprehensive survey on IACBE certification and a series of teaching reforms. According to the research, professional certification and a series of teaching reforms have a significant impact on the effect of students’ practice. In the future, attention should be paid to teaching team building, students’ teamwork ability and the application of new technology to make higher education better adapt to the changing business needs.

ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION: PFMS MODEL FOR SHIPPING SECTOR

Our world is how we made it. The current day air quality in the cities we live is the result of collective actions and decisions we took for our world in the past. Today more than 80% of global trade is carried out through oceans, global trade is all through shipping, and shipping is least polluting mode of transportation. All the raw materials consumed by manufacturing sector, oil, gas, petroleum products, iron ore, coal, grain and other merchandise are moved across the world through oceans. Because of the scale of operations and increasing international trade, the harmful effect of shipping on environment needs to be monitored. Although less but it is negatively impacting oceans and thus contributing to the climate change. There are several organizations and initiatives contributing to the cause of fighting climate change and proactively addressing the cause, all have not received same amount of success. This research work is an effort to understand the initiatives and organizations contributing towards decarbonization in shipping and green shipping and also deep dive into the rationale behind the possibilities of their success in long run. These green initiatives will fundamentally change the way we build, use and exploit maritime ecosystem for global trade. It is high time we understand that our initiatives need to be novel as well as unique in the approach and should be based on conviction that protecting nature and our earth is a collective responsibility, achievable only through collaborative efforts.

Supply risk propagation in international trade networks of the tungsten industry chain

Tungsten plays an irreplaceable role in industrial development and high technology and is vital for national security and economic development. Supply and demand imbalances, and geopolitical and social health events, among other factors, lead to supply risks for tungsten resources in different economies. The existing studies have focused on modeling supply risk in the upstream mineral trade and lack a quantitative analysis of supply risk propagation in tungsten product trade networks from an industry chain perspective. Therefore, this paper uses trade data from 2009 to 2020 to construct an international trade network for tungsten products and applies a cascading failure model to simulate the risk propagation process in the trade network of the industry chain. The results show that China, Germany, and the US have the greatest impact ranges. The influence of economies is related to the trade export value, number of trade partners, and location. The influence of economies on the trade of midstream and downstream products is significantly related to intermediary capacity, the level of economic development, and trade closeness, with technological factors becoming increasingly important as the chain extends downward. Supply risk in upstream and midstream products is propagated mainly through indirect routes, whereas risk in downstream products is propagated mainly through direct trade relationships. The number of affected economies increases substantially when there is a small decline in the export value of tungsten products from core economies. The results can provide reference and decision support for different economies to secure the supply security and sustainability of tungsten resources.

Global Tomato Production: Price Sensitivity and Policy Impact in Mexico, Türkiye, and the United States

Tomato, a vital subtropical vegetable crop, is in demand globally but is produced in limited regions. Recently, its supply has become increasingly influenced by internal and external production factors. This study analyzed the impact of price fluctuations and evolving agricultural support schemes on tomato production in three key producers: Mexico, Türkiye, and the United States, which play significant roles in the global market with specialized production and trade. Using time-series price response data from 1991 to 2022, the research examined market prices, government support policies, and international trade agreements. Long-term price effects were similar in Türkiye and the USA but negligible in Mexico. Short-term price differences were positive across all countries, with the strongest impact in the USA. Financial support programs increased supplies in alignment with time-based effects. Deviations from long-term equilibrium were corrected in all countries, with Türkiye showing the fastest recovery. The results suggest that decoupled supports positively influence supply and merit further promotion.

Foreign Economic Cooperation between Russia and Vietnam in the Context of Regional Integration

The development of foreign economic cooperation with friendly countries is one of the key priorities of Russia’s economic and foreign policy. This study aims to determine the specific characteristics and promising directions for Russian-Vietnamese foreign economic cooperation in the context of regional integration. The research relies on foreign trade statistics provided by the Federal Customs Service of Russia and analytical data from the international trade platform Trade Map. Additionally, departmental reports and analytical materials concerning Russian-Vietnamese relations for the period from 2003 to 2021 are used. The study employs methods of comparison, interpretation, and identification of functional links. Specifically, the research follows a step-by-step algorithm comprising five stages: data collection and structuring, analysis of product groups, identification of critical Russian exporting regions, evaluation of regional export specifics, and developing recommendations for further cooperation. The analysis shows that foreign trade turnover between Russia and Vietnam increased fourteenfold from 2003 to 2021, despite Russia’s share in Vietnamese imports decreasing by 1.2%. Meanwhile, imports from Vietnam to Russia rose forty-ninefold. It was found that Russia’s exports to Vietnam consist primarily of low-processed goods, raw materials, and resources. Promising directions were identified based on Trade Map data for 2019–2021, focusing on increasing non-resource exports. Future research will assess the potential for cooperation between Russian and Vietnamese regions in the high-tech sector.

The Stability of the Global Wheat Trade in the Post-Soviet Space: A Trade Duration Approach

The collapse of the Soviet Union and the Iron Wall as well as the emergence of Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine and Romania as major actors on international grain markets since 2000 had increased the hope for a more stable international grain market. However, various short-run trade policy interventions of post-Soviet grain exporting countries during the 2000s and 2010s have caused temporary disruptions in global grain supply chains. Moreover, the growing number of protectionist state interventions and sanctions since the beginning of the 2010s, as well as growing geopolitical tensions, may also fragment global trade and thus threaten the stability of grain trade relations. Against this backdrop and given the current public and political debates about suitable “de-risking strategies” to stabilise international trade, this article aims to explore the stability of the global wheat trade in terms of the duration dependence of trade relations between the major grain exporters and their destinations from 2001 to 2021. We test whether there are differences between the relatively “new” post-Soviet exporters that have emerged and the “old” ones. Furthermore, we examine the correlation between the number of trade partners and the trade duration. We employ a discrete-time hazard model to annual trade data to estimate the baseline hazard and survival rate for eleven major wheat exporting countries. The results indicate that, by having overall duration dependence, no different pattern in trade stability can be identified between “new” and “old” actors, and initial indications suggest that having more trading partners favours the survival of trade relations.

Artificial Intelligence in International Trade: A Bibliometric Analysis

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a key force reshaping the international business landscape. Artificial intelligence, known as one of the disruptive technologies of the moment, will produce important changes in the mechanism of unfolding specific to foreign trade operations. The research is based on a quantitative research method, bibliometric analysis. By querying the existing database on the Scopus platform, scientific papers (research articles, books, papers presented at conferences) containing the keywords in the title, abstract or keywords of the documents were identified. The bibliometric analysis carried out can be a guide for future research directions and for identifying strategic directions for the implementation of AI in international trade. The results obtained can also guide market participants, especially international trade companies, on how artificial intelligence could be used in the process of conducting export-import business. At the same time, the results can help academic researchers explore issues related to the application of artificial intelligence in international trade in future studies.

Measuring trends in extinction risk: a review of two decades of development and application of the Red List Index.

The Red List Index (RLI) is an indicator of the average extinction risk of groups of species and reflects trends in this through time. It is calculated from the number of species in each category on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, with trends influenced by the number moving between categories when reassessed owing to genuine improvement or deterioration in status. The global RLI is aggregated across multiple taxonomic groups and can be disaggregated to show trends for subsets of species (e.g. migratory species), or driven by particular factors (e.g. international trade). National RLIs have been generated through either repeated assessments of national extinction risk in each country or through disaggregating the global index and weighting each species by the proportion of its range in each country. The RLI has achieved wide policy uptake, including by the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Future priorities include expanding its taxonomic coverage, applying the RLI to the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, incorporating uncertainty in the underlying Red List assessments, integrating into national RLIs the impact of a country on species' extinction risk abroad, and improving analysis of the factors driving trends.This article is part of the discussion theme issue 'Bending the curve towards nature recovery: building on Georgina Mace's legacy for a biodiverse future'.

Some features of the import of alcoholic and alcohol-containing products into the territory of the Russian Federation

In modern conditions, alcoholic and alcohol-containing products make up a significant share of international trade turnover. Meanwhile, the alcohol market in our country is also represented by imported products, and therefore the need has risen to increase the efficiency of customs authorities in order to ensure the economic and political security of the state, as well as the life and health of citizens when moving this group of goods across the customs border, as well as within the EAEU. The optimization of the movement of alcohol and alcohol-containing products marked with excise stamps is of particular importance in the context of the activities of customs authorities, since the collection of excise tax is under the jurisdiction of the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation. This publication is devoted to the consideration of some features of the import of alcohol and alcohol-containing products from the perspective of the legislation of the EAEU and the national legislation of Russia.

Assessing the Impact of ICT on Export Performance: A Comparative Analysis of ASEAN‐5 and Partner Countries

ABSTRACTThe study examines the effects of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on foreign trade in goods and services between ASEAN‐5 (Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia) and their trading partners. This research employs the System‐GMM estimation method to investigate the impacts of the ICT. The analysis is conducted using a panel dataset comprising of 5 exporting countries and 20 trading partner countries over the period of 2010–2023. ICT plays a crucial role in influencing the export performance of ASEAN‐5 countries overall, goods and services. First, various ICT variables have an impact on export. The fixed broadband subscriptions of ASEAN‐5 countries had a stronger positive effect on goods export compared to total export and services export. Moreover, the internet secure servers of importing countries only had a significantly influence on services export. Similarly, mobile cellular subscriptions of ASEAN‐5 countries showed a positive relationship with services export. Furthermore, mobile cellular subscriptions of trading partners had a more positive effect on total export and goods export than services export. Second, mobile cellular subscriptions and fixed broadband subscriptions had a stronger influence on export than internet secure servers. Finally, the individual regression estimation for each ASEAN‐5 member revealed that three ICT factors contributed to the increase in export volume in total, goods, and services between ASEAN‐5 countries and their trading partners. While ICT indicators had a stronger influence on export in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia, they also had a significant and positive impact on export in Thailand and Vietnam. The research objective is to assess the impact of ICT application on ASEAN‐5 trade by measuring the influence of the ICT index on trade flows in goods and services. First, it analyses the differential impacts of ICT on total export, goods exports, and services exports of ASEAN‐5 to their trading partner countries. Second, it compares the differences in effects of total export, goods exports, and services exports between five ASEAN member countries. Finally, the study has important implications for the governments of Southeast Asian countries in proposing ICT development policies, contributing to international trade development and economic growth.

Property Rights for Forest Carbon: A Conceptual Perspective

This study delves into the intricate concept of “carbon rights” and their legal standing, particularly within publicly owned forests, utilizing the “bundle of rights theory” as a framework. The research analyzes Turkish Forest Law, employing the EFLD criterion to evaluate the security of access, extraction, management, exclusion, and alienation rights related to forest carbon. The findings reveal that while Turkish legislation provides robust provisions for access and extraction rights, aspects related to management, exclusion, and alienation exhibit certain limitations. Notably, this study highlights the constrained right of alienation in public forests, impacting the effective utilization of forest carbon rights. The study underscores the need for clear definitions and regulations regarding carbon rights, especially in countries with dominant public forest ownership, to foster sustainable carbon management and equitable participation in international carbon trading mechanisms.

Exports and Economic Growth long Run Relation in Africa Countries

The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of export economic growth in long run for Africa countries, controlling for foreign direct investment and gross fixed capital formation using panel cointgeration framework. The panel unit root test showed a mixture of integration order, which implies panel ARDL cointgeration test is the appropriate technique for cointegration test. The seven panel cointegration test indicates the presence of a cointgeration relationship in the panel. Generalized method of moments (GMM) technique indicates error correction term being negative and significant in 16 countries at 5% and 10%. In the long run, export and gross fixed capital formation have a positive effect on economic growth while foreign direct investment has a negative effect. The panel causality test shows the existence of a bi- directional causal flow in the following relations; economic growth-export, export-foreign direct investment, foreign direct investment- gross fixed capital formation, gross fixed capital formation-export. Economic growth does not granger cause foreign direct investments and gross fixed capital formation. African countries need to formulate policies that will enhance international trade specifically exports, either within the continent and worldwide. At the same time, support to African countries from developed economies and international institutions should aim to maximize the potential in export trade.