Sustainable Trade Research Articles

Study on Trade Effects of Green Maritime Transport Efficiency: An Empirical Test for China Based on Trade Decision Model

As the natural environment continues to deteriorate, countries have begun to shift their emphasis to sustainable development, and the study of green shipping—as the main realization of international trade—is an important prerequisite for global sustainable trade. This paper measures the green maritime transport efficiency considering greenhouse gas emissions using the Super-slacks-based measurement (Super-SBM) method, then extrapolates the theoretical model of trade decision covering maritime transport efficiency and maritime transport distance based on the transcendental logarithmic utility function. A panel econometric model based on this theoretical model was constructed, and then the trade effects of green maritime transport efficiency and its transmission mechanism were studied empirically based on the data of 60 sample countries (regions) in five continents from the years 2010 to 2020. The study shows that green maritime transport efficiency significantly promotes China’s foreign trade through three channels: promoting technological progress, reducing trade costs and curbing environmental deterioration. Additionally, this effect tends to be stronger for countries that are IMO members and have higher incomes. This article’s research helps to provide new empirical evidence to explain the growth of international trade.

Impact of Digital Supply Chain on Sustainable Trade Credit Provision: Evidence from Chinese Listed Companies

Given the trend of digitization, it is imperative to ascertain the role of the digital supply chain on sustainable trade credit provision. Based on data from Chinese listed firms from 2008 to 2020, we utilized the TF-IDF algorithm to measure the digital supply chain and ascertained its impact on trade credit. We found that the digital supply chain was positively associated with trade credit provision. Specifically, we arrived at the following conclusions: (1) the digital supply chain strengthens trade credit provision, including to customers and suppliers; (2) top management team power positively and significantly moderates the effect of digital supply chain; (3) among the sub-indicators of the digital supply chain, the dimensions of logistics, products and information have significant and positive impacts, while cash is insignificant; (4) curbing financialization and enhancing asset specialization are the mechanisms of the effect of the digital supply chain; and (5) the effect is more pronounced in firms with higher agency costs and lower supply chain collaboration and non-state ownership, and it is more salient in industries with higher competition and non-national support. We extend the theory of trade credit and enrich the literature on the digital supply chain. Our study offers managerial insights into the digital supply chain for emerging countries and enterprises.

Enhancing sustainable trade of mineral resources between China and African Great Lakes economies: Recommendations for action

The paper examines the sustainable trade of mineral resources between China and 10 African Great Lakes economies (2010–2021) under trade gravity theory. Using PPML estimation, findings confirm that per capita income equality positively impacts the sustainable trade index. Geographical distance hampers sustainable trade, while trade uncertainty poses challenges. A rise in China's Yuan decreases the sustainable development index. Surprisingly, patents show no significant relation to sustainable trade. To enhance sustainable trade, recommended strategies include poverty alleviation, financial inclusion, green logistics investments, and promoting the green financing market beyond the region.

Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions of Pet Amphibian Owners About Biosecurity Practices.

Global trade has been linked with the emergence of novel pathogens and declines in amphibian populations worldwide. The potential for pathogen transmission within and between collections of captive amphibians and spillover to wild populations makes it important to understand the motivations, knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of pet amphibian owners. We surveyed US pet amphibian owners to understand their characteristics and evaluated whether and how they were associated with behavioral intentions to adopt biosecurity practices. We found that the majority of pet amphibian owners are aware of the threat of emerging pathogens, concerned about potential spillover of pathogens from captive to wild populations and willing to adopt biosecurity practices to mitigate pathogen threats. Intentions to adopt such practices were driven more by psychosocial constructs such as attitudes, perceptions and beliefs than demographic characteristics. Pet amphibian owners also expressed a strong interest in acquiring, and willingness to pay a price premium for, certified disease-free animals. These findings advance our understanding of the characteristics, motivations and behaviors of pet owners, a key stakeholder in global amphibian trade, which could help to inform new policies and outreach strategies to engage them in mitigating pathogen threats. Moreover, our results imply the economic viability of a market-based program to promote pathogen-free, sustainable trade of amphibians.

Exploring the potential environmental impact of the recently established African continental free trade agreement on ECOWAS members' nations

AbstractThis research aims to comprehensively analyze the potential environmental impact of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) in Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries. To achieve this, a two‐model approach is employed, consisting of a fixed and random effects model covering the period of 1990 to 2021 and a difference‐in‐differences (DID) model focusing on the period of 2014 to 2021. The fixed and random effects model provides insights into long‐term trends and country‐specific effects, while the DID model assesses short‐term changes and estimates causal relationship effects of the AfCFTA by comparing changes in environmental indicators before and after the AfCFTA establishment. Our conclusion is based on the random effect, which was determined to be more appropriate following the Hausman diagnostic test and the DID results. The random effect model results show that GDP increases environmental degradation, whereas GDP squared improves environmental quality. Trade openness and energy consumption improve the region's environmental quality, while foreign direct investment inflows damage the environment. The DID results indicate that the treatment variable (establishment of AfCFTA) has the potential of worsening the environment while the control variable (ECOWAS member) has the potential of improving environmental quality. The interaction variable (treatment × control) enhances environmental quality. The study suggests that the trade agreement has the potential to contribute to sustainable development and environmental protection. Policymakers should seize this opportunity by implementing environmental safeguards, promoting sustainable trade practices, fostering regional collaboration, and ensuring effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.

Sustainable development through digital innovation: A new era for natural resource extraction and trade

Despite the recognized significance of natural resources for economic development, many resource-rich nations struggle to realize their potential, creating a dichotomy in the literature. This study dissects the role of natural resources in fostering sustainable commerce in BRICS nations from 1988 to 2021, a novel exploration incorporating significant control variables such as digitalization, research and development, and GDP. By utilizing panel data from 1988 to 2021, we employ appropriate panel data econometrics techniques to explore long-term relationships. Our findings reveal that while minerals and natural resource rents positively influence sustainable trade, oil rents impede it. Digitalization and economic growth also emerge as key facilitators, whereas renewable energy expenditure negatively affects sustainable trade in the long run. This study provides pivotal insights into the complex dynamics between natural resources and sustainable trade, guiding policy recommendations for optimizing economic outcomes in resource-rich economies.

Service-dominant logic: reframing category captainship and retailer category management

PurposeThe category captain system (CC) of retailer category management (RCM) is established, accepted, and widely adopted. The paper empirically assesses the application of this system in building collaborations between retailers and their suppliers to generate growth following COVID-19. This study applies service-dominant logic (S-D logic) to RCM and establishes the current ‘practical’ application of the five axioms of S-D logic within the CC system.Design/methodology/approachThe researchers adopted a qualitative research design which examined both category managers and retail buyers currently involved in the CC system, using thematic analysis of transcripts from 25 practitioner participants.FindingsThe study reveals service is not a fundamental basis of exchange in the CC system. Value is uniquely, independently, and separately created by the retailer that significantly restricts the scope of the category service eco systems and the opportunity to innovate through value co-creation.Practical implicationsSignificant change is required to realise value co-creation and innovation applying S-D logic to RCM. The study indicates there is potential to start this change by the formalisation of wider informal category relationships between non-captain suppliers and retailers through consumer insight technology, and by aligning suppliers and retailers to make more effective and sustainable trading decisions.Originality/valueThe study indicates that certain elements of the CC system proposed by the literature's games-based theoretic models, are not applied in practice. The lived experiences of practitioners suggest informal ways of by-passing the formal system using S-D logic.

Discovering the role of trade diversification, natural resources, and environmental policy stringency on ecological sustainability in the BRICST region

Understanding the role of trade diversification, natural resources, and environmental policies is crucial for achieving ecological sustainability. By unraveling the interactions between these factors, we can identify strategies to minimize the negative environmental impact of resource-dependent economies while fostering sustainable trade patterns. This research aims to bridge the gap by examining the influence of trade diversification, natural resource rent, environmental stringency policy, renewable energy resources and economic growth on the ecological footprint of BRICST (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and Turkey) countries from 1995 to 2021. The advanced panel-based technique Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) is deployed, followed by robustness estimators. The outcome implies that natural resource rent and economic growth pose environmental stress at several quantiles of ecological footprint. Conversely, trade diversification, renewable energy consumption and environmental policy stringency mitigate the adverse effects of industrialization in the BRICST nations. Manifestly, the impact of trade diversification is increasing from lower to higher quantiles while the influence of environmental policy stringency is decreasing on the conditional quantiles of ecological footprint. The study provides effective policies to save the quality of the environment in the BRICST region.

Purchasing Power Parity and Trade Imbalances: Implications and Impact on International Finance

Purchasing power parity (GDP) is an economic concept that relates currency exchange rates to the prices of goods and services in different countries. This concept has important implications in international trade and global finance. This article discusses the importance of purchasing power parity in maintaining the balance of trade between countries and its impact on international finance. In the context of international trade, purchasing power parity serves as an important measuring tool in assessing whether a currency has weakened or strengthened excessively against other currencies. Significant trade imbalances between countries can indicate a violation of purchasing power parity, which can lead to volatile exchange rate fluctuations and global economic instability. In this article, we also analyze the impact of trade imbalances on international finance. A sustainable trade imbalance can lead to a balance of payments deficit or surplus, which has an impact on the country's capital flows and foreign exchange reserves. These implications affect monetary policy, currency stability, and foreign investment in the countries involved. Title in Bahasa Indonesia: Paritas Daya Beli Dan Ketidakseimbangan Perdagangan: Implikasi Dan Dampak Pada Keuangan Internasional

Sürdürülebilir Ticaret ve Yeşil Lojistik Konusunda Web of Science (WoS) Veritabanında Yayınlanan Makalelerin Bibliyometrik Analizi

Abstract The purpose of this study to examine the articles regarding the sustainability trade and green logistics and to ensure insight for the state and development of academic research in the relevant fields using bibliometrics analysis. The data were gathered from WoS database to observe the publication trends in the period of 2007-2022. A total of 528 articles were reviewed within the scope of this study. The visualization of the data was carried out through the MAXQDA Analytics Pro. The articles were analyzed under the following sub-headings: distribution of articles by years, frequency of keywords, productivity of institutions and country, performance of the publishers and journals, most preferred research method and top 5 most-cited articles. The findings indicated that the number of publications on relevant fields have increased significantly since 2015. The most publications relevant fields are released and recorded by Asian institutions, which is then followed by European institutions. The most publications on relevant fields are released and supported by Elsevier and MDPI publishing companies. The most publications on relevant fields are released in the Sustainability and Journal of Cleaner Production. Researchers in Europe have already started to pay attention and investigate trade and logistics in the context of sustainability since 2010. Academicians have mostly preferred to utilize quantitative methods during the scientific research. Keywords: Sustainable Trade, Green Logistics, Bibliometrics, WoS, MAXQDA Jel Codes: F10, M10, Q56

DS02 British Society for Dermatological Surgery sustainability guidance

Abstract Skin surgery and the patient pathway for those with skin cancer significantly contribute to the climate crisis. Dermatological surgeons recognize the role of global climate change as a significant contributor to increasing skin cancer rates and hence increase service demand. The British Society for Dermatological Surgery (BSDS) sustainability subgroup’s aim is to facilitate the integration of sustainability within all levels of service provision through the development of national sustainability guidance. We systematically searched MEDLINE, Embase, Google Scholar and the grey literature for English-language published articles related to sustainability in skin surgery. Relevant selected evidence-based articles were critically evaluated for inclusion by 11 authors and, if sufficiently rigorous, were included in the final recommendations. The guidance then underwent multiple iterations of appraisal by the guidance development group consisting of expert consultant dermatologists and Mohs surgeons, trainees and patient–public involvement. A system-wide change in service provision is required to reduce long-term service demand. This can be achieved through a focus on skin cancer prevention, patient education and facilitating early recognition of skin cancer in primary care. Another aspect includes encouraging patient empowerment through self-monitoring, thus reducing the frequency of follow-up. Lean dermatology service delivery reduces waste by utilizing efficiency, optimizing teledermatology and one-stop see-and-treat clinics, reducing travel distances, using electronic health records and identifying unnecessary/missed appointments. Reducing carbon intensity involves using low-carbon alternatives for patient/staff transport, sustainable staff food options and a wider review of procurement and supply chain that reflects sustainable trade standards. Skin surgery must re-evaluate its consumption and waste, involving reusable equipment and surgical clothing, opting for repair over machinery replacement, reducing single-use sets and using absorbable sutures and single-wrapped biodegradable packaging. Departments should preserve water used in surgery/handwashing, conserve electricity and use renewable energy sources, in addition to surgical waste management through segregation, recycling, proper disposal of environmentally harmful waste and surgical smoke evacuation. Dermatological surgery departments can advocate system-wide change by establishing a sustainability policy, which incorporates departmental sustainability education for their staff, prioritizing waste auditing and life cycle assessments and encouraging ethical purchasing. Further skin surgery sustainability research and innovation are necessary to encourage circular economy solutions for consumables and equipment use and develop sustainability quality-improvement projects and new methods of sustainable dermatological surgery service delivery. The BSDS sustainability guidance is publicly available (https://bsds.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2022-BSDS_Sustainability_Guidance.pdf) to inform and inspire dermatological surgery sustainability.

Large gaps in voluntary sustainability commitments covering the global cocoa trade

The production and trade of agricultural commodities, such as cocoa, have important impacts on farmer livelihoods and the environment, prompting a growing number of companies to adopt public commitments to address sustainability issues in their value chains. Though trading companies, who handle the procurement and export of these commodities, are key actors in corporate sustainability efforts, cross-country data on their identity, market share, and adoption of sustainability commitments is lacking. Here, we address this gap for the cocoa sector by compiling detailed shipping data from eight countries responsible for 80% of global cocoa exports, developing a typology of trader types, and assessing their adoption of sustainability commitments. We find that cocoa trading is a highly concentrated market: seven transnational companies handled 62% of the global cocoa trade, with even larger shares in individual cocoa producing countries. The remaining 38% of exports were handled by domestic trading companies and farmer cooperatives. Overall, the adoption of public sustainability commitments is low. We estimated that just over one quarter (26%) of cocoa is traded under some form of sustainability commitment, with gaps arising from their exclusion of indirect sourcing, low adoption rates by domestic traders, and commitment blind spots, notably on forest degradation and farmer incomes. Low rates of traceability and transparency pose a further barrier to the broadscale implementation and monitoring of these commitments: one-quarter of traders report being able to trace at least some of their cocoa back to farmer cooperatives and only half of them openly disclose the identity of their suppliers. We discuss the opportunities and limitations of voluntary sustainability commitments in a highly concentrated market and argue that, to realize visions of sustainable trade, the gaps in commitment coverage must be closed by extending current efforts to smaller traders and indirect suppliers. However, companies must support, coordinate and align with government efforts so that voluntary initiatives are ultimately rendered more transparent and accountable.

Assessing preferences and motivations for owning exotic pets: Care matters

Understanding drivers of demand for exotic pets may help inform adequate conservation strategies to address unsustainable trade. Here, we used a best-worst scaling approach to understand the variety of preferences and motivations for owning exotic pets. Respondents (316 from 33 countries) preferred exotic pets that were captive-bred, had rare aesthetic features, and were common in the wild and abundant in the market. Species that were at risk of extinction, in short supply, sourced from the wild, and under trade restrictions were the least favoured by respondents. Feelings of care, such as attachment, affection, nurture, as well as curiosity and being passionate about the species, were dominant motivations for pet keepers. Respondents were willing to support the conservation of species in the wild. Our findings highlight that relational dimensions are among the most important aspects influencing decisions to own exotic pets. Certification systems of origin that supports animal welfare and conservation may help consumers support sustainable trade in exotic pet species. However, attention should be paid to challenges throughout the supply chain and not to incentivize consumers' preferences for rare genetic features as this may pose a risk to the conservation of species in the wild. When planning conservation initiatives and policies, considering relational dimensions may provide novel insights to better foster meaningful expressions of care with animals in the wild, as opposed to animals as exotic pets. Fostering care, as a normative human sense of kinship with non-humans, could help channeling “demand for ownership” towards “stewardship relations” with nature.

Sustainable Trade Promotions in Case of Negative Demand Disruption in E-Commerce

In this research, we examine the impact of a negative demand disruption on trade promotions strategy, where suppliers offer discounted prices to online supply chain retailers. To analyze the various factors that affect trade promotion strategies, we develop a Stackelberg game model to determine the optimal pricing for both manufacturers and retailers, as well as the optimal order quantity of the retailers. Our findings indicate that through an appropriate sustainable trade promotion policy, the profit of the supply chain’s members can be increased in different scenarios, including various product disposal costs and the time of product delivery. In addition to the trade promotion policies, we consider a new strategy where the manufacturer assists the retailer by paying some part of the delivery cost. Then, we compare these strategies to determine which approach leads to the highest profit for the manufacturer, retailer, and integrated supply chain under the different intensities of negative demand disruption.

Private labels of retail chains as a sustainable trade development trend

Current trends in the development of retail trade are determined, among other things, by the development of private labels. The decline in consumers’ real incomes, fall in purchasing power, rising inflation rate, and behavior of austerity determined the increase in the share of private labels in the structure of sales volumes. Thus, in the assessment of the entire Russian market, the share of private labels has almost doubled over the past 7 years and amounted to 7.2 %. In some retail chains, the share of private labels reaches 15 % and 2500 SKUs of food and non-food products.

Empirical Analysis of Sustainable Trade Effects of FTAs Based on Augmented Gravity Model: A Case Study of China

China has developed many strategies to promote sustainable trade, including accelerating the signing of free-trade agreements (FTAs). However, there is a lack of studies examining the impact of FTAs on the sustainable growth of foreign trade from a holistic perspective. This paper applies an augmented gravity model to verify the trade creation and diversion effects of China’s FTAs that are currently in effect. A panel data analysis over the period of 1995–2019 is conducted on 34 countries and regions, including China, and Poisson pseudo-maximum likelihood (PPML) is employed to test three different fixed-effects models. The results show that the trade effects differ across FTAs, with nine FTAs generally making positive contributions to China’s trade and social welfare growth, and the remaining five FTAs exhibiting varying degrees of trade diversion or contraction effects. Empirically, it is clear that participation in FTAs has contributed to the sustainable trade of China, but China still needs to take prudent action to pursue further trade liberalization in order to counter the potential threat of trade diversion.

Green horizons – Towards more sustainable trade after the TSD Review

All eyes are on the European Commission following the communication on a new approach to Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) Chapters in EU Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). The focal point of EU trade policy recently shifted back towards bilateral trade agreements with a greater scrutiny on the sustainability objectives embedded in the TSD Chapters such as tackling global emergencies including the climate crisis, deforestation, and biodiversity loss. But what does this new approach entail, and how effective will it be at improving the monitoring and enforceability of the TSD Chapters? This article reviews the new TSD Chapter approach and assesses its overall objective to address sustainability concerns linked to international trade. The article discusses missed opportunities for enhancing sustainability in EU trade agreements and reflects what the new TSD approach could mean for newly concluded and ongoing trade agreements.

The European Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and the path to Sustainable Trade Policies: From ‘Coexistence’ to ‘Cooperation’

AbstractLong examined by the academic literature as a challenging technical-legal fiction with a strong geopolitical impact, border carbon adjustment is on its way to becoming a European reality. This Article provides an overview of the European legislative process with a comparison of the initial Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (‘CBAM’) project presented by the Commission in July 2021 with the positions formalised by the European Parliament and the Council in 2022. With a detour through the doctrine of international law and building upon the work of Professor Thomas Cottier on the concept of Common Concern of Humankind (‘CCH’) in international law, the Article examines the European CBAM, and more broadly, the recent multiplication of unilateral environmental initiatives with extraterritorial impacts, as a contextual transition from a logic of coexistence to a logic of cooperation in the field of environmental policies. It concludes on the necessity to design the European CBAM accordingly, by redistributing its direct revenues and developing open and inclusive cooperation frameworks, to accelerate this transition in the field of industrial decarbonisation.

Changes in Agri-Food Export Competitiveness Based on the Sophistication Analysis: The Case of Xinjiang, China

The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is a major agri-food export contributor within China. Growing quality requirements for agri-food export, increasing green trade barriers, and a desire to emphasize sustainable trade at regional levels have prompted Xinjiang to pay increased attention to agri-food export competitiveness. The paper uses the export sophistication index to investigate the overall and classificatory export competitiveness of Xinjiang’s Agricultural Products (APs). The results are compared to the national average within China by calculating the relative export sophistication. The research finds that (1) Xinjiang’s APs exports are predominant in medium and medium-low-sophistication products. Along with the expanding scale, its structure has been optimized overall. (2) Horticultural products keep a leading position, not having strong competitiveness in Xinjiang but also far exceeding the national average. However, the bulk APs, livestock products, aquatic products, beverages and tobacco, and other APs have no significant export competitiveness compared to the national average. (3) The export structure of Xinjiang’s APs is highly concentrated in horticultural products, showing an adverse trend in export competitiveness distribution—”the strong getting stronger and the weak getting weaker,” and a slower upgrading than the national average since the outbreak of COVID-19, which requires the attention of policymakers.

Nachhaltige Partnerschaft

Abstract The illusion that open and free trade, no matter with which partner, also creates fair and sustainable trade as well as eventually political change and a better, safer, world has long been put into question. Since the beginning of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, it has completely evaporated. It would be wrong, however to completely abandon the concept of “change through trade” and to view trade policy solely as a protectionist element. Trade can indeed stimulate sustainable growth, bring about positive structural change and bind countries together more strongly – but only if the conditions are set correctly. And if both sides of the equation demonstrate the necessary will to do so. There has been a clear lack of this direction and will in trade policy and beyond in recent decades. The challenges facing a modern and positive trade policy are many. Some of them are worth considering in detail before drawing conclusions for a reorientation of what remains the Union’s most effective geopolitical policy area.