• Korea Trade Review
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.131-148
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• 2021

This study examines how corporate social responsibility (CSR) affects corporate tax avoidance behavior. Using a sample of publicly listed U.S. firms, we find that legal CSR-which is required by law-reduces the level of corporate tax avoidance because this type of CSR reduces information asymmetry between investors and corporate management in such a way that investors are less likely to perceive tax avoidance behavior as a risk. On the other hand, we find that the relationship between normative CSR-which is a voluntary type of CSR behavior-and tax avoidance is not statistically significant. Instead, our additional analysis reveals that normative CSR increases the level of corporate tax avoidance conditional on reporting quality. This study provides meaningful implications to the academic literature and to practitioners. Not only does this study highlight the fact that not all CSR are alike, it highlights that it is important to provide transparent CSR information in order to allow stakeholders to estimate the net effects of firms' CSR activities and tax payment.

• 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.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.117-139
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• 2020

In case of international long-term transactions, there are various risks of economic change of circumstances including skyrocketing price increase and shortage of raw material, as well as force majeure in a general sense. Nevertheless, pretty many of international long-term commercial contracts do not include the provisions of renegotiation and adaptation of the contract. In this case, possibility of renegotiation and adaptation depends mainly on the applicable law. Namely, it may be possible or not, according to choice of law. The reason is that national laws have nuances each other, and most of national courts are traditionally reluctant to accept hardship. and also, provisions of international uniform law (CISG) has ambiguity and inflexibility in relation to the problems of change of circumstances. Accordingly, this paper analyzes comparatively the doctrines and provisions related to renegotiation and adaptation of contracts of the most representative countries such as England, U.S.A., France, Germany as well as provisions CISG and soft law such as PICC. By doing so, the author makes clear which laws of instruments is more flexible or acceptable in allowing renegotiation and adaptation of long-term commercial contracts, and emphasizes on the importance of inclusion of express terms by using other alternative supplementing clauses, as a best solution for settling the problems of legal uncertainty of contract in relation to renegotiation and adaptation.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.83-93
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• 2020

Sanctions by the international community can increase their effectiveness with the participation of major countries with global economic influence, and can lead to efficient sanctions against the target countries when different sanctions procedures and methods can be operated in an integrated manner. To this end, it is being carried out with the aim of maximizing the performance of sanctions through collective economic solidarity by inducing international participation centered on the joint agenda, such as drawing up a resolution for sanctions. In this study, the definition and purpose of sanctions imposed by the international community and by major specific countries were explained and an empirical analysis was conducted on the economic impact of each sanctions, focusing on the United Nations Security Council and the United States, which directly implement them. Based on the selected research model, the effects of economic sanctions on the international community and countries subject to sanctions by certain countries were mutually compared and analyzed in the data. Finally, the conclusion obtained from this study was stated and the implications were derived and the possibility of further research expansion was described.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.141-160
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• 2021

The scale of global FDI has been decreasing since 2016 due to the ongoing US-China trade dispute, the strengthening of FDI inflow screening regulations with concern over strategic technology leaks, and the spread of reshoring trends due to the reinforcement of national preferences. Eventually, the competition to attract FDI between countries is expected to become more intense. Therefore, in order to attract high-quality FDI for Korea that will contribute to the development of the national economy, it is pressing to evaluate and improve the domestic FDI attraction environment. This study aims to analyze which areas of Korea's economic and non-economic environments need improvement for gaining advantage amid the fierce competition to attract FDI between countries, by the relative comparison between Korea and the U.S., and based on the ranking indicated in key FDI attractiveness indices. As a result, improvement is needed in the following areas. First, according to IMD's "World Competitiveness Ranking 2020," Korea was inferior to the US in terms of business efficiency, productivity, finance and business legislation in terms of government efficiency. Second, according to INSEAD's "Global Talent Competitiveness Index 2020," Korea was inferior to the US in terms of internal openness, external openness, employability, lifelong learning, access to growth opportunity, and business and labor landscapes. Third, according to WEF's "Global Competitiveness Index 2019", Korea was inferior to the US in terms of product market, labor market, business dynamism and workforce skills.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.579-609
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• 2003

The role of foreign direct investment (FDI) as a channel of knowledge transfer and on the technological spillovers of know-how to other sectors in the economy is in the middle of this debate. Thus, foreign direct investment may have significant positive effects in reducing residual loadings and environmental pollution. There is an abiding concern expressed by many commentators that countries will lower their environmental standards to attract foreign investment, thereby creating so-called "pollution havens." Others argue that increasing foreign investment could promote "pollution halos" by introducing and transferring more efficient and less polluting technologies. The primary objective of this study is to show the dynamic relationship among pollution loadings, pollution abatement effort, and economic development with explicit consideration of FDI-related effects. This study found when foreign direct investment is evaluated in the model, the environmental pollution level is reduced and expenditure on pollution abatement is increased.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.149-168
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• 2023

Through an examination and analysis of straight bills of lading and sea waybills in the context of English, U.S.A and Korean law, and relevant international conventions on maritime transport, the following results were obtained: Prior to the enactment of U.K.'s the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act in 1992, straight bills of lading had functional differences between countries. However, after the enactment of this law, negotiable bills of lading obtained the same legal status and functionality in both Korea and the United States, as well as in the UK. As for sea waybills, all three countries treated them with the same contractual and legal status. In other words, they serve as receipts for the transported goods and act as evidence of the maritime transportation contract. Nevertheless, they are non-negotiable, and the delivery of goods can be made to the consignee or their agent based on their identity. However, the transfer of ownership rights over the goods or acquisition of legal rights against the carrier cannot be achieved through the transfer or endorsement of Sea Waybills.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.16-23
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• 2022

This study examined the trend of international competitiveness over the past 10 years (2011-2020), focusing on comparative analysis with China and the United States, targeting seven major export items of Korean construction machinery based on 6 units of HS code. To this end, the export similarity index and trade competitiveness index were calculated and analyzed using UN Comtrade and Korea International Trade Association trade statistics. As a result of the analysis, competition between Korea and China has intensified over the past decade, and competition with the United States has remained at a certain level. Korean forklifts (8427.20) are exporting to the world with strong competitiveness in the global market. Excavators (8429.52) and loaders (8429.51), which have the largest export share of Korean construction machinery, have a weight advantage, but they are exporting due to price inferiority. The rest of the items were found to be inferior in price and weight, and were not competitive in the global market. These analysis results suggest the following implications. First, it is necessary to strengthen efforts to expand exports of universal construction machinery items, which are expected to increase in demand in the future, by boosting the economy and expanding infrastructure investment in accordance with eco-friendly policies. Second, excavators, which have been shown to have a quality advantage and a price competitive advantage, need to further strengthen export marketing activities not only in China and the United States but also in emerging developing countries.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.373-394
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• 2009

As Korea-EU FTA has established, the strategy and counteractive measures of Japan have been rising. EU accounts for 33% of GDP and has a lot of population, which makes up 7.1% in the world. Besides, it has a great market, which, amounts to 4.3 trillion. Japanese government indicated that as Korea has established FTA with the U.S.A. and has negotiated with EU, the necessity to cope with in the field of automobile, machinery, and appliances is urgent. To recognize competitive areas in the market of EU between Korea and Japan, this paper focuses that we need to notice Japan's access toward EU and the present situation about trade and customs. Second, it investigates that Japan is in competitive with Korea in which kind of industrial area.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.89-100
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• 2004

Because of a recent trend of the open and globalized world economy, international trade is getting bigger and there is a trade competition among many countries, resulting in competition between harbor industries. Therefore, as hub-port development of China, Japan and Taiwan is more actively progressing than any other times, Korea should prepare a powerful management system to take the initiative over them. Above all, a new recognition of the governmental officers in charge of political management about hub-port industry and early development of the northeast hub-port are needed. To maximize its distinctiveness from competitive ports, port sale should be actively managed. As well, as port functions are diverse, accompanied site development should be prepared. In conclusion, in order to improve functions of a port and develop the port as a general complex of physical distribution, the government should encourage the accompanied site development and support preparation of a customs-free area and a general system of physical distribution.