How APEC Affects the Intra-trade of Members: An Empirical Study

Purpose - The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum has evolved and is actively facilitating free and open trade. It is debated whether APEC has effectively reduced trade barriers in a preferential manner to encourage liberalized trade and whether increased trade between member countries has reduced trade with nonmember countries. Research designs, data, methodology -This paper empirically tests whether APEC creates or diverts trade, using an extended gravity model with tariff rates, exchange rates, and dummy variables to analyze how APEC affects intra-trade between members.The model utilizes the annual panel data between 1990 and 2007 of 16 selected APEC members and nonmembers. Results - Results reveal the changing role of APEC only between 2002 and 2007 has it created trade, fostering increased trade among trading partners and between members and nonmembers. Conclusion - APEC can be expected to demonstrate a stronger trade creating effect once its advanced and developing members complete tariff reductions by 2010 and 2020, respectively.