• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.12
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• pp.657-664
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• 2020

We investigate the impact of roads and highways within the provinces on the regional trade of China using the augmented Gravity Model and theory of modeling trade. We take a panel data covering 31 provinces of China over 20 years period (1998-2017) for the estimations. We apply ARMA-OLS model, fixed and random effects, and robust findings by Hausman test. The results imply that road and highway lengths within the provinces have a significantly positive impact on the value of the province-wise exports. The positive impact is due to the fact the increased coverage of roads and highways increase accessibility to resources and mobility of goods and services within the regions. Moreover, employment in the transportation sector, per capita GDP and population of the provinces also illustrate positive and significant influence on regional exports and trade. The impact of China's WTO accession on regional exports has been positive, while the financial crisis has had a negative impact. The year dummies show that, in the years following the financial crisis, China was able to regress from the external shock as trade within the provinces increased. The increase in exports after financial crisis is mainly due to the government policies and support to every province.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.107-125
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• 2019

This study analyzes the effects of FDI on the global value chain (GVC) using participation and export value added using panel data from 2005 to 2016 for 63 countries. This study used the GLS method. Results are as follows: First, foreign direct investment had a positive impact on the global value chain (GVC) participation and export value added of non-OECD economies. Furthermore, tariff rates were more sensitive to non-OECD countries than OECD countries. In addition, logistics infrastructure had a negative impact on global value chain (GVC) participation and export value added, while developed countries, such as OECD countries, with good infrastructure, had a positive impact on non-OECD countries. Finally, research and development costs have been shown to play a very important role in non-OECD countries. This study found that various service sectors, such as research and development (R & D) as well as the general manufacturing industry, are expanding beyond two countries to form global value chains (GVC) in which several countries are connected from production to consumption.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.58-76
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• 2022

Purpose - This study examined the Rules of Origin (RoO) as a factor affecting free trade agreements' (FTA) utilization and analyzed the causal relationship and the effects of these factors on the export performance of automobile parts companies. Design/methodology - We analyzed and verified the impact of FTA utilization and the export performance of automobile parts companies by dividing the characteristics of the RoO into complexity and uncertainty. Following which, various statistical analyses were conducted on the interrelationships among these variables. Findings - This research analyzed the effect of the RoO factors of complexity and uncertainty on the use of FTA and the export performance of automobile parts companies. We found that these characteristics of RoO were generally related to and affected the FTA use and export performance of these companies. Based on this, this study's investigation into the characteristics of the RoO would then help companies in better utilizing the FTA, as well as providing suggestions on how to effectively respond to the application of the FTA in the future. Originality/value - Companies that want to utilize FTAs in international trade must follow the RoO. In the Regional Trade Agreement (RTA), the country-of-origin is a key factor, with the RoO being an important requirement for the application of preferential tariffs. These regulations are a requirement for receiving FTA preferential treatment; however, they also cause difficulties to companies in using the FTA.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.101-118
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• 2020

This study aims to quantify the effects of non-tariff measures (NTMs) on exports in the Korean manufacturing industry. To do this, we employ product-level export data that includes information about whether or not a product is affected by NTMs. One of the main results is that NTMs (SPS/TBT) on average led to reduction in Korean exports. However, the effects of NTMs differed depending on the income level of the NTM-imposing country. The NTMs imposed by high-income countries, such as U.S.A. and Japan, were found to impede Korean exports, whereas the export effect of NTMs imposed by low-income countries such as China was found to not be statistically significant. In addition, the results analyzed based across industries, income level, and types of NTMs are as follows. First, NTMs imposed on textile-related products generally hindered exports regardless of the type of NTMs, but its negative impact on exports was noticeable in the case of NTMs originating from high-income countries. On the other hand, chemical product-related NTMs were found to lead to an increase in Korean exports, and it had a positive effect in the case of SPS imposed by low-income countries. In other industries except for textile- and chemical-related products, the effects of NTMs on exports were either statistically insignificant or showed inconsistent patterns.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.1-12
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• 2011

The effect of real exchange rate changes on trade balance is called the J-curve effect. That is, after real depreciation, the trade balance will deteriorate in the short run and improve in the long run. Specially, import and export prices respond with little or no decline in volume. Assuming a zero initial trade balance and dominance of the exporter currency in invoicing trade contracts, the trade balance continues to deteriorate in the medium term. Over time, the relative price-induced volume effect comes to dominate the price effect and the trade balance improves. This pattern of the trade balance adjustment is commonly referred to as the J-curve effect. This study examines the effects of changes in the exchange rate on the Korean port trade balance to China. The empirical results indicate that whilst there is J-curve effect in the short-run, but in the long-run, the real depreciation of the Korean won has positive impact on port trade balance to China.

• Journal of Service Research and Studies
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.67-78
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• 2017

This paper discusses the types and importance of service trade. The service trade, which has become increasingly important, is shaped by the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). However, the availability of trade data is still low. The service is expected to increase the value added of the manufacturing industry and to lead the trade enhancement effect beyond the current stagnant commodity trade. Such effects are also confirmed by studies using the OECD Service Trade Restriction Index. Korea's service trade is relatively low compared to commodities's, and some items are still in a chronic deficit. In order to overcome such a situation and develop the service industry, it may be considered to pursue active service opening around major industries. It is also possible to suggest a Korea Standard that mediates between developing and developed countries.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.58-79
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• 2019

Purpose - This study focused on the effect of mobile app information system quality on re-use intention in the medical service trade, and examined how the Chinese, currently the main consumer of Korea's medical service trade, obtained information through mobile apps, and the status of satisfaction felt by experiencing medical services. Design/methodology - The survey period was from November 2018 to January 2019, and was conducted on Chinese who voluntarily experienced medical services. The collected data verified causality of the study model through the statistical program, SPSS.24. The results showed that the most popular medical institution through the medical service mobile app is dermatology, and the quality of the app's information system plays a mediating role in influencing re-use intention. Findings - Overall, the current trade in medical services is first accessed and acquired through mobile apps, and as a result, consumers revisit medical institutions according to the reliability of information. Comments and likes, another new form of the word of mouth that has greatly influenced revisiting in the past, are seen to be spreading through the app's medical information. Originality/value - The previous market for the medical services trade was formed by very conservative word of mouth, but now we believe that the app's information system actively influences the revisit effect. This means that apps can be used in diverse areas in the medical service trade market. In addition, the medical service market needs to further develop a mobile app environment that can reflect consumers' diverse needs, behaviors, and culture from time to time in order to revitalize the service trade. Such an app environment development will have tremendous promotional effects on the trade market and provide directions for expanding trade in medical services.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.103-118
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• 2023

Purpose - This study aims to examine the dynamic relationship between the variables impacted by the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the level of intra-industry trade among member states, with the ultimate objective of deducing the short- and long-term effects of RCEP on trade. Design/methodology - This study focuses on tariffs, GDP growth rates, and the proportion of regional FDI to total FDI as research variables, and employs a panel vector autoregression model and GMM-style estimator to investigate the dynamic relationship between RCEP and intra-industry trade among member countries. Findings - The study finds that the level of intra-industry trade between member states is positively impacted by both tariffs and intra-regional FDI. The impulse response graph shows that tariffs and FDI within the region can promote intra-industry trade among member countries, with a quick response. However, the contribution rates of tariffs and intra-regional FDI are not particularly high at approximately 1.5% and 1.4%, respectively. In contrast, the contribution rate of GDP growth can reach around 8.5%. This implies that the influence of economic growth rate on intra-regional trade in industries is not only long-term but also more powerful than that of tariffs and intra-regional FDI. Originality/value - The originality of this study lies in providing a new approach to investigating the potential impact of RCEP while avoiding the limitations associated with the GTAP model. Additionally, this study addresses existing gaps within the research, further contributing to the research merit of the study.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.45-64
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• 2022

Purpose - This paper examines South Korea's potential status as a carbon leakage country, and the level of risk posed by the Korean emissions trading scheme (ETS) for Korean industries. The economic effects of border carbon adjustments (BCAs) to protect energy-intensive Korean industries in the process of achieving the carbon reduction target by 2030 through the Korean ETS are also analyzed. Design/methodology - First, using the Korean Input-Output (IO) table, this paper calculates the balance of emissions embodied in trade (BEET) and the pollution terms of trade (PTT) to determine Korean industries' carbon leakage status. Analyses of the risk level posed by carbon reduction policy implementation in international trade are conducted for some sectors by applying the EU criteria. Second, using a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model, three BCA scenarios, exemption regulations (EXE), reimbursement (REB), and tariff reduction (TAR) to protect the energy-intensive industries under the Korean ETS are addressed. Compared to the baseline scenario of achieving carbon reduction targets by 2030, the effects of BCAs on welfare, carbon leakage, outputs, and trading are analyzed. Findings - As Korea's industrial structure has been transitioning from a carbon importing to a carbon leaking country. The results indicate that some industrial sectors could face the risk of losing international competitiveness due to the Korean ETS. South Korea's industries are basically exposed to risk of carbon leakage because most industries have a trade intensity higher than 30%. This could be interpreted as disproving vulnerability to carbon leakage. Although the petroleum and coal sector is not in carbon leakage, according to BEET and PTT, the Korean ETS exposes this sector to a high risk of carbon leakage. Non-metallic minerals and iron and steel sectors are also exposed to a high risk of carbon leakage due to the increased burden of carbon reduction costs embodied in the Korean ETS, despite relatively low levels of trade intensity. BCAs are demonstrated to have an influential role in protecting energy-intensive industries while achieving the carbon reduction target by 2030. The EXE scenario has the greatest impact on mitigation of welfare losses and carbon leakage, and the TAF scenario causes a disturbance in the international trade market because of the pricing adjustment system. In reality, the EXE scenario, which implies completely exempting energy-intensive industries, could be difficult to implement due to various practical constraints, such as equity and reduction targets and other industries; therefore, the REB scenario presents the most realistic approach and appears to have an effect that could compensate for the burden of economic activities and emissions regulations in these industries. Originality/value - This paper confirms the vulnerability of the Korean industrial the risk of carbon leakage, demonstrating that some industrial sectors could be exposed to losing international competitiveness by implementing carbon reduction policies such as the Korean ETS. The contribution of this paper is the identification of proposed approaches to protect Korean industries in the process of achieving the 2030 reduction target by analyzing the effects of BCA scenarios using a CGE model.

• East Asian Economic Review
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.151-174
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• 2021

This paper empirically examines whether and how inward foreign direct investment (FDI) affected industrial productivity in Korea during the 2000-2016 period, based on dynamic panel data of inflow FDI on an arrival basis from 427 manufacturing industries. The paper adds to the literature by analyzing whether both technology spillovers and industrial restructuring from inward FDI can differ according to industrial characteristics such as capital intensity, imported intermediate inputs, and tariffs. The empirical results show that the overall effects of inward FDI on total factor productivity (TFP) were statistically insignificant in general. However, the positive effects of inward FDI on productivity became statistically significant for industries with lower tariffs. Capital intensity were not involved in the relationship between inward FDI and productivity. Thus, the paper highlights that the results in previous studies with inward FDI on a notification basis were overestimated and inward FDI policies in Korea should focus on channels such as trade liberalization and the redistribution of production factors rather than capital accumulation.