Fortress Europe and Other Myths about Trade: Policies toward Merchandise Importsin the EC and Other Major Industrial Economies (and What They Mean for Developing Countries)

摘要

Widespread allegations to the contrary, outside of agriculture the industrialcountries were essentially free traders in the 1980's. Almost without exception, their overall import elasticities rose. The increase in manufactures imports was particularly remarkable. They rose from 19% to 40% of manufacturing production in the US, and from 16 percent to 25 percent in the EC. Including intra-EC trade, in 1990 manufactures imports reached 87% of manufacturing production in the UK, 67% in France, 53% in Germany. EC manufactures imports from non-members rose faster than intra-EC trade, belying allegations of a Fortress Europe. The rhythm and timing of EC and US import increases differed, but more in response to exchange rate changes than to variations in protectionism. Japan's manufactures imports also soared, but in 1990 they still amounted to less than 12% of manufacturing production, indications of increasing, but still limited, openness. These patterns contradict the myth of widespread, effective and rising barriers to manufactures imports. (Copyright (c) 1993 The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank.)