Trade policy in retrospect. The great recession and the determinants of tariff and antidumping restrictions in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico

Abstract

This paper summarizes the macro and microeconomic determinants of tariff and antidumping (AD) barriers in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico using pre- and post-2008 Great Recession trade and protection data. As to tariff barriers, institutional agreements appear to have kept applied tariff in control after the crisis, while the positive impact of intra-industry trade reveals the governmental dependence on tariff revenue in both Sud-American countries. As to AD determinants, the evidence indicates that Argentina have further increased AD investigations after the crisis as a complement to tariff. Finally, the Great Recession has not reinforced the relationship between movements in the exchange rate and the start of an AD procedure.