Preferential Liberalization, Antidumping, and Safeguards : Stumbling Block Evidence from MERCOSUR

Bown, Chad P. ; Tovar, Patricia

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: preferential trade agreements;    tariffs;    MFN;    antidumping;    safeguards;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-7865
RP-ID  :  WPS7865

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

There is not yet consensus in the tradeagreements literature as to whether preferentialliberalization leads to more or less multilateralliberalization. However, research thus far has focusedmostly on tariff measures of import protection. This paperdevelops more comprehensive measures of trade policy thatinclude the temporary trade barrier policies of antidumpingand safeguards. Studies in other contexts have also shownhow these policies can erode some of the tradeliberalization gains that arise when examining tariffsalone. This paper examines the experiences of Argentina andBrazil during the formation of the MERCOSUR over 1990-2001.The study finds that an exclusive focus on applied tariffsmay lead to a mischaracterization of the relationshipbetween preferential liberalization and liberalizationtoward non-member countries. First, any "buildingblock" evidence that arises by focusing on tariffsduring the period in which MERCOSUR was only a free tradearea can disappear, once the analysis includes changes inimport protection arise through temporary trade barriers.Furthermore, there is also evidence of a "stumblingblock" effect of preferential tariff liberalization forthe period in which MERCOSUR became a customs union, andthis result tends to strengthen with the inclusion oftemporary trade barriers. Finally, the paper provides afirst empirical examination of whether market power motivescan help explain the patterns of changes in importprotection that are observed in these settings.