摘要：We examine the effect of regionalism on unilateral trade liberalization using
industry-level data on applied MFN tariffs and bilateral preferences for ten
Latin American countries from 1990 to 2001. We find that preferential tariff
reduction in a given sector leads to a reduction in the external (MFN) tariff in
that sector. External liberalization is greater if preferences are granted to
important suppliers. However, these “complementarity effects” of preferential
liberalization on external liberalization do not arise in customs unions.
Overall, our results suggest that concerns about a negative effect of
preferential liberalization on external trade liberalization are unfounded.
