雨声如鼓催花发，何时莲开千百枝？ ——《SPS 协定》下“等效承认”规则缺陷 与因应之策

世界贸易组织下的《SPS协定》、《等效决议》以及CAC、OIE、IPPC制定的对等承认准则共同构成了SPS措施等效承认机制。但这个机制缺少法律约束,也存在相关方之间权利失衡、等效承认时限不清等问题,这导致国际SPS措施的等效承认的实施陷入困境。国际SPS措施的等效承认是消除贸易技术壁垒的重要途径。世界贸易组织应重视完善SPS措施对等承认机制,以更好地推动世界贸易的发展。     

Tariff Equivalent and Forgone Trade Effects of Prohibitive Technical Barriers to Trade

We derive a method to econometrically estimate the tariff equivalent and forgone trade effects of a prohibitive technical barrier to trade (TBT) based on Wales and Woodland's Kuhn–Tucker approach to corner solutions in consumer choice. The method overcomes the lack of observed data on bilateral trade flows and accounts for differentiated goods by place of origin. We apply the derived random utility model to international trade in apples to identify the tariff equivalent of prohibitive phytosanitary barriers imposed by Australia on potential imports of New Zealand apples. We estimate the forgone apple trade between the two countries, the implied trade injury imposed by Australia on New Zealand, and the welfare loss to Australia. The removal of the Australian policy would induce net welfare gains around US$50 million annually for Australia.     

Nontariff measures and product differentiation: Hormone-treated beef trade from the United States and Canada to the European Union

We investigate how a combination of the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measure and product differentiation affects beef trade and the consequences for the United States (US)–European Union (EU) hormone-treated beef trade dispute. We develop a partial equilibrium model to represent the global beef markets and product differentiation between non-hormone-treated beef, hormone-treated beef, and other beef. The results show that removing the SPS measure increases EU hormone-treated beef imports from the US and Canada and decrease beef consumption. In addition, EU hormone-treated beef consumption and imports can be related to a few key indicators of product differentiation. The framework we develop can estimate EU hormone-treated beef consumption and imports based on a minimum of parameters relating to product differentiation, thereby providing useful applied economic analysis of a key trade measure.     

全球贸易视角中的技术性贸易壁垒

在全球自由化的浪潮下 ,有人认为贸易保护主义将不会存在 ,而对技术性贸易壁垒也由于《技术性贸易壁垒协议》以及《卫生与植物检疫措施协议》的制定而认为壁垒将会走向终结。但是自国际贸易产生开始 ,贸易就成为一国经济的重要组成 ,与一国的利益紧密相关 ,只要国家间存在利益上的差异 ,保护主义就不会消失 ,而TBT、SPS协议的制定并未实际约束到非技术贸易壁垒 ,所以很有必要对此进行研究 ,把握今后贸易的发展 ,以便能制定合适的贸易政策 ,并积极参与全球贸易规则的制定。     

完善我国动植物卫生检疫制度——以SPS协议为视角

建国以来,我国动植物卫生检疫工作取得了长足的发展,并初步形成了较为完善的动植物卫生检疫制度。但是与SPS协议相比,还存在法律法规体系不完善、标准体系不健全、检验检疫措施落后、科学依据不充分、各职能部门机构体制不协调、疫病控制管理水平不高等不足。因此在SPS协议容许的范围以内,应该完善动植物检疫法律制度和风险预警与快速反应机制,加强检验检疫项目合作,积极参与国际标准的制定,进一步强化机构和体制建设,促进各职能部门协调统一,提高检验检疫技术水平,为我国农产品国际贸易保驾护航。     

Factors underlying sanitary and phytosanitary regulation for food and agricultural imports notified by WTO members

The impact of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures has been extensively studied in the trade literature. However, there is very scant research on the factors underlying the World Trade Organization (WTO) members’ regulatory process. The aim of this paper is to fill that gap, examining the main determinants for the development of SPS regulation considering the notifications presented by WTO members. A negative binomial regression was estimated, where the dependent variable was the number of SPS measures notified during the period 1995–2012 by WTO members, while the explanatory variables were related to each country: (1) agricultural production value; (2) agricultural imports weight; (3) health concerns; (4) agricultural import tariffs; and (5) scientific and legal capacities. The results provide evidence that legal and scientific capacities are major factors in the number of notifications presented by WTO members. On the other hand, those countries with a higher relative weight of the agricultural sector in the economy or of agricultural products in their imports have notified fewer SPS measures. This leads to the conclusion that it is necessary to reinforce actions that strengthen institutional and technical capacities for further convergence.     

Combining Risk Assessment and Economics in Managing a Sanitary–Phytosanitary Risk

The Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures provides guidelines for countries to protect domestic production from pests and diseases. The guidelines permit consideration of consumer welfare. We find an optimal set of SPS measures considering total welfare and mitigation strategies. Our model suggests that it is optimal and less restrictive to apply mitigation strategies first and then an additional smaller tariff if necessary. Relative cost of mitigation determines the amount of the mitigation strategies applied in the importing and exporting countries.     

How important are tariffs and nontariff barriers in international markets for fresh fruit?

International markets for agricultural products are often subject to a range of trade barriers, and horticultural products are no exception. This article examines the economic implications of tariffs and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) regulations that are applied to global markets for fresh apples and fresh oranges. We calculate regional‐level tariff rates and ad valorem equivalents for SPS barriers following the price‐wedge approach. A simulation model is developed and used to assess the price, quantity, and welfare implications of reducing tariffs, removing SPS barriers, and removing SPS barriers that have been identified as a Specific Trade Concern (STC) by the World Trade Organization. Results suggest that a 36% reduction in global tariffs would lead to greater welfare gains than would the elimination of SPS measures in apple markets. However, in orange markets, we find that SPS measures have much larger economic implications for producers and consumers. Here, a 36% reduction in tariffs would lead to smaller overall welfare effects compared to removal of all SPS measures, and only slightly larger effects than those from removal of STCs alone.