East Asian trade integration in the era of global value chains: Prospects and challenges

Arbeitspapier

This paper examines trade integration of East Asian countries through the lens of global value chains (GVCs). It first gauges the extent and involvement of trade in value-added (TiVA) for East Asian countries. The analysis confirms that reliance on backward GVC participation outside of the region still looms large in East Asia. This presents the case for creating policies that would enable the creation of greater global links in addition to focusing on deepening intraregional trade linkages remain important. Sectoral comparisons reveal that Regional Value Chains (RVCs) among East-Asian economies have been increasing its role in East Asian's exports of transport equipment sector while decreasing the role in its exports of textile and apparel sector. Such trend seems to suggest RVC opportunities are available to East Asian economies in sectors that require production to locate close to large and growing markets and suppliers' ability to absorb new technology. Moreover, the study finds enabling policy environment is an important factor to strengthen intraregional value chain linkages. For example, non-tariff measures (NTMs), have become an important part of trade-policy measures and have significantly affected trade flows in RVCs. It is found that NTMs are generally associated with reduced trade in value-added flows, except in the case that NTMs may help ensuring quality standards, such as technical NTMs in the food industry.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: ARTNeT Working Paper Series ; No. 205

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations ; Multinational Firms; International Business
• Subject: Global Value Chains ; Trade integration ; Non-tariff measures

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Yamashita, Nobuaki
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Asia-Pacific Research and Training Network on Trade (ARTNeT)
• (where): Bangkok
• (when): 2021

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/231382
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET