PTAs and the incidence of antidumping disputes

Abstract

We analyze whether preferential trade agreements (PTAs) affect the incidence and pattern of antidumping (AD) filings. We find PTA membership results in a 29 percent (15 percent) decrease in the incidence of intra-PTA AD actions (measures). We then exploit variation in the content of PTAs and find the reduction is due to PTAs with explicit AD rules. We find that intra-PTA AD filings (measures) decrease by about 46 percent (34 percent) for PTAs with explicit AD rules. Our results are robust in controlling for other PTA-related phenomena, the emergence of China as the largest target of AD actions, and the role played by EU and US PTAs. Our findings highlight the effectiveness of PTA AD rules in curbing AD disputes among members.