Research Activities

Research Projects

Regulations on the environment/food safety and international trade(2019_2_40_015)

Outline

In recent decades, the numbers of regulations and standards pertaining to health, safety, and the environment have increased in both developed and developing countries. Product and process standards, which are non-tariff measures, have been expected to function as a catalyst for trade but have also raised the concern of impeding trade flow as disguised protectionism. However, prior research shows mixed results in trade impacts of standards depending on industry, type of standard, and products, etc. To utilize prior experience for future policy and business decision-making, the breaking down of mechanisms for the trade impacts of standards is necessary.

This research project examines interaction between standards and trade, focusing on four under-researched mechanisms. The first mechanism involves impacts of standard diffusion for trade. The second involves interaction between private and public standards and an examination of how said interaction affects trade. The third involves the impact of standards on trade and production for the case of a developing country as an importing country. The final mechanism involves demand for private standards in Asia that determine standard impacts on society. The project aims to contribute to standard-setting and policymaking, as well as business, amid the world of ever-increasing standards (including sustainability standards).

Period

April 2019 - March 2022

Leader of the Research Project

Michida Etsuyo

Publications

Submit a paper to Journal