JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2022, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (3): 222-230.doi: 10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202011021

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Effects of forest certification on international trade in paper and pulp products

CHEN Jiaojiao1(), SONG Weiming2, LU Wenming3, YANG Chao2, XIA Enlong1,*(), LI Nan1   

  1. 1. International Center for Bamboo and Rattan, Beijing 100102, China
    2. School of Economics and Management, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
    3. International Bamboo and Rattan Organization, Beijing 100102, China
  • Received:2020-11-12 Accepted:2021-02-23 Online:2022-05-30 Published:2022-06-10
  • Contact: XIA Enlong E-mail:jiaojiaochen1992@hotmail.com;xiaenlong@icbr.ac.cn

Abstract:

【Objective】Research and practice have demonstrated that forest certification has a substantial impact on trade in forest products. Paper and pulp products are an important component of forest products. This paper assessed the impact of forest certification on the international trade in paper and pulp products in different economies from a global perspective, to provide scientific guidance for the construction of China’s forest certification system, mechanism and policy. 【Method】The consumer incomplete information condition was introduced into the theoretical framework of the impact of forest certification on trade for different countries. Forest certification was also incorporated into the extended gravity model. Based on data of the number of forest certifications and the bilateral trade value of paper and pulp products for 68 countries from 2009 to 2018, the impact effect is decomposed from three aspects: export competition effects of forest certification in exporting countries, trade barrier effects in importing countries, and common language effect coming from the interaction of forest certification in importing and exporting countries. The total sample was further subdivided into four sub-models to assess the impact on different economies. 【Result】The effect of forest certification on the international trade in paper and pulp products is asymmetric. Forest certification has a significant export competitive effect on paper and pulp products, which is more pronounced in developing countries than in developed countries. In the process of trade with developed countries, forest certification has a trade barrier effect, which has a stronger influence in developing countries. The common language effect of forest certification does not exist during the trade of developing countries, while it plays a role in trade between developed and developing countries. 【Conclusion】Forest certification is an unavoidable environmental and resource factor in the development of the production and trade of paper and pulp products, as well as the other forest products in China, and its influence is increasing. It is necessary to pay strong attention to and promote the development of forest certification in China at the level of the macro system, mechanism and policy construction.

Key words: forest certification, paper and pulp products, international trade, effect asymmetry

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