Measuring the effect of food safety standards on China's agricultural exports

Abstract

According to China’s recent experiences in agricultural trade disputes with the developed countries, China’s exports might be constrained by nontariff barriers. The significance of these barriers is assessed in regression analyses by using a gravity model of agricultural product trade to test the effect of the residue standards on China’s export of vegetables (Chlorpyrifos MRL) and aquatic products (Oxytetracycline MRL). The results show that food safety standards imposed by importing countries have a negative and statistically significant effect on China’s export of agricultural products. The trade effect of food safety standards is much larger than that of the import tariff.