Trade In Products Research Articles

Food Crisis and Competitive Analysis of Selected Agricultural Products in Turkey

Agriculture has an important place in the Turkish economy. It is known that Turkey is the leading country in foreign trade in some agricultural products. The main purpose of this study is to test whether Turkey is a competitive country in agricultural products. In the study, Revealed Comparative Advantages (RCA) index was used to measure Turkey's competition in agricultural products. The study period covers the years 2000-2021. According to RCA index calculations, it was found that Turkey has disadvantages in 19 of 46 agricultural products and advantages in 27 of 46 agricultural products. These 27 agricultural products are divided into three as weak, medium and strong advantage levels. Accordingly, Turkey was found to have a weak advantage in 5 agricultural products, medium advantage in 9 agricultural products and strong advantages in 13 agricultural products.

Міжнародно-правова база захисту глобальної продовольчої безпеки

Ukraine is historically known as the "bread­basket of Europe and the world" due to its significant agricultural production. The issue of food insecurity in the world, caused by the russian federation as a result of the full-scale aggression against Ukraine, launched on February 24, 2022, has become a critical concern in the international stage. An environmental crisis with far-reaching repercussions for the country’s agricultural sector, together with the blocking of Ukrainian logistics lead to an increase in prices for agricultural products, as well as an increase in the risk of famine in countries dependent on Ukrainian agricultural exports. The aim of the research is to define the norms of international law regarding global food security and trade in agricultural products, which have been violated by russia in order to develop a mechanism of responsibility for these violations and compensation for the damage caused. The methods of legal analysis, historical legal and systemic analysis are applied. Analysing the repercu­ssions of the russian federation’s actions for global food security, the article examines various relevant international legal frameworks and instruments aimed at safeguarding food security and ensuring access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious sustenance for all. By assessing the impact of the russian invasion on logistics routes, trade networks, and distribution mechanisms, this article elucidates the far-reaching implications for the timely and efficient delivery of agrarian goods to international markets. Additionally, the study highlights the role of international agreements in addressing the challenges associated with disrupted logistics in the agricultural sector. This article examines the scale of environmental damage and losses inflicted on Ukraine’s agrarian landscape and scrutinizes these impacts through the prism of international legal principles.

Evolutionary Analysis of the Solar Photovoltaic Products Trade Network in Belt and Road Initiative Countries from an Economic Perspective

Against the backdrop of global energy transition and the imperative for sustainable development, the trade dynamics of solar photovoltaic (PV) products among “Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)” countries gained momentum. This study investigates the evolving trade patterns of PV products within BRI nations, alongside the underlying determinants. The paper constructs and analyzes a solar PV product trade network, elucidating evolutionary trends, structural complexities, and clusters. A novel centrality influence model explores influencing factors across five dimensions. Methodologically, trade data, the “Five Connectivity” framework, and socio-economic indicators from 2001 to 2022 across 65 BRI countries underpin the study. Empirical insights reveal a robust PV product trade network with density exceeding 0.4 and reciprocity surpassing 0.38. China’s rising centrality, reflected in a weighted degree surge from 14.38 to 79.37 since 2011, signifies its consolidation within the network. Results show sustained high density and reciprocity in the PV trade network, signaling robust communication among BRI countries. China’s centrality in the network has consistently grown since 2011. Trade cluster analysis reveals isolated segments predominant, depicting emerging economies with limited photovoltaic exchanges, mainly export-focused. The study highlights the pivotal role of “Five Connectivity” dimensions in promoting PV trade, while financial connectivity’s impact remains modest. The emergence of PV product centers challenges traditional energy hubs, prompting the need for new energy trading paradigms and robust financial hubs.

THE EFFECTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON FOREIGN TRADE IN IMMUNOLOGICAL PRODUCTS: AN EVALUATION

Purpose- The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant changes in the expectation of the foreign trade of consumer products at the global level. This prevention purpose is to reduce and analyze the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on foreign trade in harmful products. It is aimed to understand the world created by the planet of the pandemic through the examination of foreign trade data such as exports, imports, trade fees and prices of consumer products from the consumption of the epidemic. In addition, it is planned to analyze criteria such as overview countries and incomplete trade structures, demand, and supply chain, and make an assessment on the difficulties and challenges that arise in this process. Methodology- The data of the study consists of secondary data at the macro level. Foreign trade data belonging to 300215- “Immunological products, put up in measured doses or in forms or packings for retail sale” product group, which is under the main heading of HS 30 pharmaceutical products in the Customs Tariff Schedule and included in the 6-digit product classification, has been used. Relevant data were compiled from the website of the International Trade Center (ITC) trademap.org. As a result of the evaluations made within the scope of the research, interpretations will be made in the light of all the information obtained by giving the current situation of the countries. Findings- The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on foreign trade in immunization products. During the pandemic, many countries have experienced an increase in demand for immunization products and have sought to strengthen the supply chain to increase production. However, some countries are facing supply challenges due to limited production capacity, supply chain disruptions and fluctuating demand. Conclusion- As a result, the COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on foreign trade in immunization products. Research results show that the pandemic has caused changes in supply and demand arrangements in the sector. Countries have turned to increasing local production to strengthen the supply chain and meet their own needs. This has led some countries to increase exports, while imports have increased in other countries. These research results suggest that the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on foreign trade in immunization products are significant and the sector needs to take strategic steps to adapt to these changes. Policymakers should support the sector with measures such as strengthening supply chains and improving trade regulations. Businesses should adapt to changing conditions through strategies such as supply chain management, demand forecasting and market diversification. Keywords: Immunological products, foreign trade, Türkiye JEL Codes: M16, F49, Z00

Animal protection as animal welfare and anti-cruelty: a genealogical re-examination of the EU seal products ban

This article suggests a way to inquire into animal protection politics as a specific field of international politics which regulates human-animal relations. Based on a genealogical analysis of the emergence of animal protection thinking in 19th and 20th century Great Britain, it argues that animal protection is structured by two specific strategies, anti-cruelty and animal welfare, that constitute our knowledge of what animal protection is and how it can be achieved. Whereas animal welfare suggests that animal protection means the meticulous technical standardisation of animal use along the scientific knowledge about particular species’ stress levels, anti-cruelty takes a moral approach and suggests that animal protection can be achieved by taming the cruel human subject by means of legal prohibition. The article uses these strategies as an interpretative lens for analysing the EU’s behaviour in the seal products case. It argues that the ban of the trade in seal products can be understood as the result of the anti-cruelty strategy gaining dominance in the EU debates on its seal policy. Moreover, in the ensuing WTO struggle the moral undertones of anti-cruelty made it possible for the EU to frame the ban as the protection of public morals under Article XX (a) GATT and thus to establish animal protection as a legitimate ground for trade restrictions. The antagonistic identity construction attached to anti-cruelty moreover made it possible for the EU to constitute itself as a morally superior subject and to re-emerge as a normative power in the context of animal protection. The article concludes by reflecting about further avenues for research on international animal protection politics.

MULTILATERAL REGULATION OF DIGITALIZATION PROCESSES

The article provides substantiation for the importance of multilateral regulation within the field of digitalization processes. The author has conducted an analysis of the current status, consequences, and shortcomings of liberalising international trade in key ICT products under the WTO’s Information Technology Agreements (ITAs). The combined economic impact of these two ITAs has been estimated at approximately three trillion dollars annually. However, it is important to acknowledge that these agreements encompass fewer than half of the WTO’s member countries. The study reveals that existing international regulation initiatives concerning the digital economy primarily operate on a voluntary basis, focusing on specific aspects of digitalization and involving only a limited number of countries. The author contends that the demand for comprehensive multilateral regulation in digitalization arises from potential global-scale issues and risks. Consequently, the following priorities for multilateral regulation in digitalization are delineated: establishing consensus on fundamental definitions of digital processes, terms of data access, the concept of digital data as a global public good, forms of data management, rights and principles pertaining to digital data, data standardization, and international cooperation in platform management. In conclusion, the author emphasizes the need for an integrated and balanced approach to support the inclusive and sustainable global economic development, as well as the potential for creating an international entity tasked with overseeing various aspects of digitalization.

The Determinants of Foreign-Direct-Investment (FDI) Inflows in Nigeria

ABSTRACT: Due to the importance of foreign direct investment (FDI), scholars are always keen to explore FDI determinants and analyze their implications. Nevertheless scholars have proposed mixed viewpoints of FDI and interpreted its determinants differently, which do not contribute to the knowledge advancement and amalgamation of FDI literatures. The current research, therefore, aims to advance the knowledge of FDI determinants in Nigeria through a new investigation on the key determinant factors affecting Nigeria's inward FDI. Data were collected from UNCTAD (1970-2014) and analyzed by auto-regressive distributed lag tests (ARDL). A comprehensive theory-based model was developed accounting for many variables, such as the interest rate, external debt, oil rents, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate, trade and exchange rate volatility. The analysis of FDI determinants in the Nigerian economy yielded reliable, robust, and economically meaningful results thereby offering an insight into the driving factors of inward FDI. Findings indicate that the interest rate, external debt, oil rents, and GDP growth are all important determinants, possessing a long-run effect on FDI. Different from the literature, however, trade and exchange rate volatility are barely important to FDI. Several policy implications flow from the findings. From a policy point of view, regarding the GDP growth rate, there should be concerted efforts to boost the performance of the non-oil sector in Nigeria through more investments in the agricultural and industrial sectors making the growth of the economy spread across other sectors and, in turn, encouraging inward FDI in such areas. Countries such as Nigeria, endowed with natural resources, should pursue policies targeted at full deregulation (privatisation) of their natural resource sector to better utilize the abundance of their natural resources thereby attracting additional FDI. Nigeria should also pursue better debt management practices. When debts are acquired, they should be targeted towards future consumption and longer-term investments. Most importantly, as an import-dependent economy, the Nigerian government should also formulate export-driven and appropriate fiscal policies that will stabilize Nigeria's trade relationship with other world economies. The Nigerian government should create the necessary environment that will regulate macroeconomic and specifically monetary policy (interest rate) which is essential for the attraction of FDI inflows into the economy. Finally, Nigeria should ensure that the quality of exportable commodities is improved to enhance international competitiveness.

Public Administration Effectiveness of the Agro-Trade between Ukraine and the Slovak Republic

Abstract Agricultural development fuels economic growth and is crucial to poverty alleviation and food security. Agricultural trade plays an important role in the sustainability of global and regional food systems. Trade between countries allows food to shift from surplus to deficit areas. The efficiency of the public administration for the agricultural products trade is vitally important for the sustainability and prosperity of any country. The aim of the article is to assess the effectiveness of the public administration of the agro-trade sphere through the analysis of the dynamics, general trend line building and forecasting of the agricultural products trade between Ukraine and the Slovak Republic. According to the trend line direction, the agricultural products trade amount between Ukraine and the Slovak Republic is to increase during two projected years. The projections for two years following the analysed time frame for all the components of the agro-trade between Ukraine and the Slovak Republic have an upward trend, except the agro imports one. The research presented in the article can be used by public administration bodies, politicians and decision-makers of Ukraine and the Slovak Republic, big and small companies involved in the agro-trade, the EU international trade bodies and beginners as well as experienced specialists in data analysis.

Comparative Analysis between Intel Corporation and AMD in the Context of the IT Industry in Romania

This scientific work delves into the remarkable surge of international trade in high-tech products observed globally over the past decade. Emphasizing their pivotal role in European Commission policies, particularly in environmental and climate-related discussions concerning our digital future and economic stability, the study provides key insights from Eurostat's analysis of extra-EU high-tech product trade. Noteworthy points include a steady 4.9% average annual increase in total trade outside the EU from 2011 to 2021, with high-tech products' share in total trade growing from 14.7% to 18.1% over the same period. China emerges as the principal partner for imports into the EU, while the United States takes the lead in exports from the EU. Eurostat's data further reveals a substantial rise in total extra-EU trade (imports + exports) in high-tech products, surging from €482 billion EUR to €777 billion EUR between 2011 and 2021, indicating an average annual growth rate of 4.9%. Imports escalated from €248 billion to €392 billion, experiencing an average annual growth rate of 4.7%, whereas exports showed slightly stronger growth, increasing from €234 billion to €385 billion, with an average annual growth rate of 5.1%. This led to a reduction in the European Union's trade deficit, plummeting from €14 billion EUR to €7 billion EUR. Additionally, the study examines the IT industry in Romania, characterized by steady and sustainable growth according to the Employers' Association of the Software and Services Industry (ANIS). The industry's value soared from 4.6 billion euros in 2015 to over 9 billion euros in 2022, signifying a substantial impact on the country's gross domestic product (GDP), reaching 7%. Bucharest holds the largest market share at 60%, followed by Cluj at 18%. To provide comprehensive insights into the Romanian microprocessor market, the study employed an online questionnaire from December 3, 2022, to January 3, 2023. Participants were invited to respond to 22 questions, 16 of which were closed-ended, while 6 were open-ended. The questionnaire primarily focuses on gathering objective data related to the microprocessor market in Romania, particularly from the perspectives of industry leaders INTEL and AMD. Following the administration of the aforementioned questionnaire, a total of 485 responses were gathered from individuals aged between 18 and 70 years old. The aggregation of the received responses yielded valuable information on various aspects including gender distribution, age demographics, professional fields, budget allocation for processors, annual spending on IT components, and preferences for processor manufacturers, among others. These insights provide a comprehensive overview of the Romanian microprocessor market, offering crucial data for companies operating in this industry to make informed decisions and develop effective strategies.

Analysis of the impact of green trade barriers on the trade of industrial products between China and five Central Asian countries based on Lanczos-model reduced-order algorithm

With the development of economic globalization, the proportion of export trade in China is gradually increasing, and there has been a relatively close connection between the economies and trade of the five Central Asian countries and China, and because of their special geographical location, the connection between China and the five Central Asian countries is more frequent and there are certain connections in different industries. Different countries will certainly have different industrial priorities, so they need to be linked with each other. In the process of trade export, there will also be relevant policies appear, and green trade barriers are one of the policies that are closely linked with trade as one of them. Under the influence of green trade barriers, the trade of industrial goods between China and five Central Asian countries is also greatly affected, and this paper mainly uses Lanczos-model descending order algorithm to analyze its influence.

Development of Cross-Border E-commerce between China and Russia as part of the Belt and Road Initiative: Opportunities and Challenges

This paper researches the opportunities and challenges of cross-border e-commerce development between Russia and China under the One Belt One Road initiative. Using SWOT analysis and official data, introduce the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities as well as threats of cross-border e-commerce development between Russia and China. The conclusion is that the current e-commerce market in China and Russia has great potential and has become a new growth point for foreign trade promotion and economic recovery, and its development has the strengths of political support and complementary product trade structures in both countries. In addition, the Belt and Road Initiative promotes the development of logistics infrastructure, an the rapid development of Internet technology and online trade provides opportunities for the development of e-commerce in China and Russia. However, in the current complex international situation, the development of cross-border e-commerce in both countries faces threats and challenges, such as the slow global economic recovery after the epidemic and the sanctions imposed on the Russian economy by Europe and the US. There are also its own weaknesses: imperfect cross-border payment and credit systems, limited trade models on the platform, and untimely logistics and delivery. Therefore, optimization and improvement of platforms, cross-border payments and cross-border logistics are needed. This study will contribute to enterprises exploring new paths for their own development, and optimizing the foreign trade structure of China and Russia as well as economic recovery.

Impact of product sharing and heterogeneous consumers on manufacturers offering trade-in programs

Many large manufacturers offer trade-in programs as a way to protect the environment and to generate greater revenues by attracting and retaining consumers. However, the emergence of product-sharing platforms alters consumers’ purchase decisions. We develop an analytical framework for examining how manufacturers that offer trade-in programs can respond to product-sharing markets and heterogeneous consumers. Two classes of consumers are considered: myopic and strategic. This study establishes that a sharing market reduces the manufacturer’s profit when consumers are strategic rather than myopic. Moreover, a smaller salvage value will always (resp. sometimes) boost the manufacturer’s profit when consumers are myopic (resp. strategic). The manufacturer’s profit increases with the product’s depreciation rate and maintenance cost when consumers are myopic, but it may be decreasing in the depreciation rate and maintenance cost when consumers are strategic. We show that these unexpected results follow from the interaction – under certain parameters – between a propelling effect (that encourages consumers to trade in old products) and a hauling effect (that discourages consumers from buying new products). Finally, the manufacturer derives more profit from strategic than from myopic consumers regardless of whether or not there is a product-sharing market.

Hybrid Autofluorescence and Optoacoustic Microscopy for the Label-Free, Early and Rapid Detection of Pathogenic Infections in Vegetative Tissues.

Agriculture plays a pivotal role in food security and food security is challenged by pests and pathogens. Due to these challenges, the yields and quality of agricultural production are reduced and, in response, restrictions in the trade of plant products are applied. Governments have collaborated to establish robust phytosanitary measures, promote disease surveillance, and invest in research and development to mitigate the impact on food security. Classic as well as modernized tools for disease diagnosis and pathogen surveillance do exist, but most of these are time-consuming, laborious, or are less sensitive. To that end, we propose the innovative application of a hybrid imaging approach through the combination of confocal fluorescence and optoacoustic imaging microscopy. This has allowed us to non-destructively detect the physiological changes that occur in plant tissues as a result of a pathogen-induced interaction well before visual symptoms occur. When broccoli leaves were artificially infected with Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc), eventually causing an economically important bacterial disease, the induced optical absorption alterations could be detected at very early stages of infection. Therefore, this innovative microscopy approach was positively utilized to detect the disease caused by a plant pathogen, showing that it can also be employed to detect quarantine pathogens such as Xylella fastidiosa.

ASEAN Halal Markets Analysis: Regulatory and Harmonization Challenges

This article examines important aspects of the halal market’s development, including halal food in seven advanced members of ASEAN countries. The qualitative method has been used by examining the main aspects of the regulation, a form of institutions, a SWOT analysis, a study of the impact of halal food regulations, and an analysis of ASEAN regulatory harmonization. Data on halal food regulations in ASEAN-7 countries were obtained from literature reviews, official documents, publications, interviews, and direct field observations. The study shows that halal regulations in ASEAN-7 generally are adequate for their purpose but reveal diversity in halal standards, institutional forms, internal and external environmental conditions, and their impacts. The implication shows that the ASEAN can potentially increase halal business and global halal trade. Although various efforts have been made, more synergistic cooperation is needed to develop harmonious halal trade regulations to increase economic, social, and consumer protection benefits for the ASEAN region. Originality/Value: This study investigates the existence of research gaps between empirical data and literature or theories concerning the trade in halal food products within the ASEAN region. The study on the harmonization of halal regulations in ASEAN and its relationship to trade flows has not been extensively conducted. It is hoped that this research will prove beneficial to both academic literature and the formulation of regional policies regarding the halal food trade among ASEAN countries.

The Effect of Carbon Sink Afforestation Projects on China’s Forest Product Export Trade: Empirical Evidence from Chinese Microenterprises

Forestry carbon sinks are an important measure for enabling China to cope with global climate change and realize its “double carbon” goal. Carbon sink afforestation projects (CSAPs) are a type of forestry carbon sink projects, and the question of whether China’s forest products with an export orientation can adapt to the requirements of high-quality development is important for balancing the relationship between emissions reduction and development. We use the micro-data of forest product export enterprises provided by the China Customs Database and construct a difference-in-difference (DID) model to investigate the impact of CSAPs on China’s forest product export and its heterogeneity. The results show that CSAPs significantly increase the export scale of China’s forest products. CSAPs lead to significant heterogeneity regarding the forest product export scale in relation to regions, production factor intensity, trade pattern, enterprise ownership, and export destination countries. We further find that although the implementation of CSAPs significantly reduces the export types of forest products, it significantly promotes an increase in the export price and the expansion of the export quantity of forest products, and it optimizes the export structure of forest products to some extent. The “Belt and Road” initiative (BRI) has played a significant positive role in regulating the expansion of the forest product export scale with CSAPs. The implementation of CSAPs reduces the risk of termination of trade relations among forest product export enterprises and extends the export duration. The conclusions provide implications for policy makers and managers of forest product enterprises.

Embodied Carbon Accounting for Forest Industry Trade in BRICS Countries: An MRIO Modeling Approach

A multi-regional input-output (MRIO) model was constructed to measure and compare the trade-induced carbon emissions within the forest industry among the BRICS countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The results indicate the following: (1) The primary source of import/export-related carbon emissions from the forest industry in BRICS countries is the trade of paper products, with the exception of Russia, where wood products significantly contribute to its export-related carbon emissions. (2) The net carbon emissions from forest industry trade in BRICS countries underwent varying degrees of volatility during the period from 2008 to 2013. (3) China and Russia exhibited notably higher levels of trade-induced carbon emissions in their forest industries compared to other BRICS nations, while the scale of embodied carbon emissions from international trade in the forest industry of South Africa, Brazil, and India remained relatively similar. (4) The trade-induced carbon emissions of the forest industry in BRICS countries were predominantly export-oriented between 1995 and 2018. Therefore, it is recommended that BRICS nations prioritize addressing carbon emissions within the forest industry’s trade sector. Collaborative efforts should be intensified to promote cleaner development pathways, foster sustainable economic growth, and take a more proactive stance in global climate change negotiations.

Virtual water flows of Turkey's agricultural products: A gravity approach

In this study, we use a gravity model to analyze virtual water flows due to the trade of agricultural products for Turkey. We calculate virtual water flows of agricultural trade for 326 products and 192 trade partners for 2002–2019. The empirical model of virtual water trade flows for Turkey is formed where the dependent variable is the total amount of water embedded in the trade of agricultural products. Besides the baseline equations, which include conventional explanatory variables like income, population, geographical distance, and affinity dummies, we estimate expanded models that include two measures of water availability and two measures of water pressure. Additionally, variables showing the size of agricultural activity and availability of agricultural land in the partner country are included in the analysis. Furthermore, the gravity models for total virtual water flows are disaggregated into intermediate and consumer goods, providing further insights.

Assessment of dairy farm’s hygienic practice and knowledge of farm workers on milk-borne zoonoses in three selected towns of the Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Consumption of unhygienic milk is the most common source of milk-borne zoonotic diseases. These zoonoses have public health importance and are a major obstacle to trade in livestock and livestock products. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted from December 2021 to June 2022 to assess milk-borne zoonotic diseases, the habit of milk consumption, and the hygienic practices of dairy farm workers in three purposefully selected towns in the Wolaita zone, southern Ethiopia. Dairy farms and farm workers were selected by a simple random sampling technique. A total of 100 respondents, one per farm, were selected and participated in the interview. The result indicated that 41% of farms used individual towels and 21% used common towels to dry their cows’ udders; however, the remaining 38% of farms did not use any towels at all. The majority (59%) of farms clean the floor once a day and around 92% remove dung manually. Of total farm workers, 43% had no formal education, 28% had primary-level education, 5% had secondary- level education, 2% were college diploma holders, and 22% were first-degree and above graduate workers. Concerning milk consumption habits, 64% of respondents used raw milk, 29% used raw and boiled milk, 3% of interviewees consumed all types of milk (raw, boiled, refrigerated, and processed milk), and 4% didn’t drink milk at all. Furthermore, 50% of respondents were aware of disease transmission through the consumption of raw milk. Regarding respondents’ knowledge of milk-borne zoonoses, 51% of interviewees didn’t know about zoonotic diseases, while the remaining 4% knew about tuberculosis, 32% were aware of salmonellosis, 5% knew about both tuberculosis and salmonellosis, and 8% were aware of tuberculosis, anthrax, mastitis, salmonellosis, and brucellosis. Concerning the knowledge of respondents on disease transmission, 73% of respondents didn’t know that zoonotic diseases can transmit from humans to animals and vice versa. Furthermore, when compared to other educational levels, participants with a degree or higher (86.7%) had better awareness of disease transmission from raw milk consumption, and there was a statistically significant difference (p-value < 0.05). The farms had poor awareness of dairy farm hygienic standards and milk-borne zoonoses. To lessen the animal and public health concerns associated with milk-borne zoonoses, it is critical to create awareness, provide extension services, and provide training programs.

Phytosanitary measures and certifications programs implemented in Florida

The geographic and climatic conditions of Florida make the state vulnerable to damaging exotic organisms. This risk is compounded by the intense trade of agricultural products arriving through numerous ports of entry in the state and the tourism industry, with at least 115 million visitors annually. For over 100 years, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Division of Plant Industry (FDACS-DPI), known as the Florida State Plant Board from 1915-1960, has implemented regulatory programs to protect Florida's diverse agricultural industries from damaging exotic organisms (Tissot et al., 1954). These unwanted organisms include phytoparasitic invertebrates such as arthropods, mollusks, and nematodes, and, also, plant pathogens and invasive plants. Many of these programs have been effective in preventing the establishment of or eradicating severe pests such as the Mediterranean [Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann)] Oriental [Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel)] and West Indian [Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart)] fruit flies, boll weevil [Anthonomus grandis Boheman], cotton seed bug [Oxycarenus hyalinipennis (Costa)] and the giant African snail [Lissachatina fulica (Bowdich)], which, at present, is under eradication in central Florida. Florida remains free from some pests through a permanent monitoring system, which, in the case of the fruit flies, is based on traps, baits, and mass release of sterile flies. When eradication is not feasible for a newly introduced pest, the spread of these exotic organisms is limited or controlled by certification programs designed to maintain pest-free propagative plant material and the release of biological control agents. These programs are very costly and require the commitment and dedication of regulatory officials, the support of growers, and public awareness of the risk that damaging exotic pests pose to agriculture and the state's economy.

The impact of timber regulations on timber and timber product trade

To promote legal imports of timber and timber products, some countries, such as the United States, Australia, the Republic of Korea, and members of the European Union (EU), have adopted timber trade regulations. The implementation of these regulations is the result of the increase in illegal logging and its negative impact on the environment, biodiversity, and climate change. These regulations play an important role in international trade and are part of an effort to combat illegal logging and its consequences, such as deforestation. This study analyzes the impact of the implementation of these regulations on imports of timber and timber products from timber-producing and timber-processing countries with a significant share of illegal logging over the period 1995–2019. To do so, we use a method combining the gravity approach with a matching technique such as entropy balancing. To test the robustness of our results, we estimate alternative specifications and use alternative methods such as the gravity model and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS). We find that the implementation of these regulations has a negative effect on imports of timber and timber products. This reduction in imports is mainly more significant for timber and timber products such as pulp and wood furniture and can also vary according to the country implementing the regulation..