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PDF Test Bank For Global Business Today 7Th Edition Charles W L Hill Online Ebook Full Chapter
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Test Bank for Global Business Today, 7th Edition: Charles W. L. Hill
Chapter 06
The Political Economy of International Trade
3. Tariffs are the instrument that the GATT and WTO have been most successful in limiting.
True False
4. In recent decades, a fall in subsidies, quotas, and voluntary export restraints has been
accompanied by a corresponding fall in nontariff barriers.
True False
5. Nontariff barriers include subsidies, quotas, voluntary export restraints, and antidumping
duties.
True False
6. Specific tariffs are levied as a proportion of the value of the imported good.
True False
7. Ad valorem tariffs reduce the cost of imported products relative to domestic products.
True False
6-1
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
9. Tariffs increase the overall efficiency of the world economy because a protective tariff
encourages domestic firms to produce products more efficiently at home that, in theory, could
be produced abroad.
True False
10. Export tariffs are far less common than import tariffs.
True False
11. The main gains from subsidies accrue to importers, whose international competitiveness is
increased as a result of these subsidies.
True False
12. Japan has a long history of supporting inefficient domestic producers with farm subsidies.
True False
13. A direct restriction on the quantity of some good that may be imported into a country is a
quota rent.
True False
6-2
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
15. The Buy America Act specifies that government agencies must give preference to
American products when putting contracts for equipment out for bid unless the foreign
products have a significant advantage.
True False
16. Administrative trade policies are bureaucratic rules that are designed to make it easy for
imports to enter a country.
True False
17. Dumping is variously defined as selling goods in a foreign market at below their costs of
production, or as selling goods in a foreign market at below their "fair" market value.
True False
18. Antidumping policies are designed to punish foreign firms that engage in dumping
industrial waste into the environment.
True False
19. The fair market value of a good is normally judged to be lesser than the costs of producing
that good.
True False
20. Countries sometimes argue that it is necessary to protect certain industries because they
are important for national security.
True False
21. Protecting consumers from "dangerous" products and furthering the goals of foreign
policy are types of economic arguments for intervention.
True False
6-3
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
22. The relationship between pollution and income levels follows a linear pattern.
True False
23. The infant industry argument is the oldest economic argument for government
intervention.
True False
24. Until the early 1980s, most economists saw little benefit in government intervention and
strongly advocated a free trade policy.
True False
25. Brazil's auto industry, once the world's tenth-largest and built behind tariff barriers and
quotas, has been proven as one of the world's most inefficient.
True False
26. Protection of manufacturing from foreign competition does no good unless the protection
helps make the industry efficient.
True False
27. The roots of strategic trade policy arguments can be traced back to the late 18th century
and the works of Adam Smith and David Ricardo.
True False
28. Several economists, including Paul Krugman, point out that although free trade policy
looks appealing in theory, in practice it may be unworkable.
True False
6-4
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
29. The Smoot-Hawley Act was a multilateral agreement whose objective was to liberalize
trade by eliminating tariffs, subsidies, and import quotas.
True False
30. In the Uruguay Round of the WTO, member countries sought to exempt trade in services
from GATT rules.
True False
31. The United States wanted the WTO to allow governments to impose tariffs on goods
imported from countries that did not abide by what the United States saw as fair labor
practices during a WTO meeting at the end of November 1999.
True False
32. Antidumping actions seem to be concentrated in certain sectors of the economy such as
basic metal industries (e.g., aluminum and steel), chemicals, plastics, and machinery and
electrical equipment.
True False
33. The biggest defenders of agricultural subsidies are the developed nations of the world.
True False
34. Free trade in agriculture could help to jump-start economic growth among the world's
poorer nations and alleviate global poverty.
True False
35. The threat of antidumping action enhances the ability of a firm to use aggressive pricing to
gain market share in a country.
True False
6-5
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
36. Government intervention may invite retaliation and trigger a trade war.
True False
37. Which of the following is one of the seven main instruments utilized in trade policy?
A. Local content requirements
B. Licensing
C. Foreign direct investment
D. Employment guarantees
38. While _____ tariffs are levied as a fixed charge for each unit of a good imported, _____
tariffs are levied as a proportion of the value of the imported good.
A. ground; ceiling
B. ad hoc; nonconvertible
C. posited; floating
D. specific; ad valorem
39. Tariffs cause damage to _____ because this group must pay more for certain imports.
A. investors
B. governments
C. consumers
D. producers
40. According to experts, which of the following groups most benefits from the imposition of
tariffs?
A. Government and producers
B. Consumers and trade associations
C. Exporters and importers
D. Producers and foreign competitors
6-6
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
41. A protective tariff encourages domestic firms to produce products at home that, in theory,
could be produced more efficiently abroad. This results in:
A. an establishment of a comparative advantage over firms from other countries.
B. improved productivity of the labor workforce in that country.
C. higher mobility of resources within the country.
D. an inefficient utilization of resources.
42. The U.S. government imposed an eight to thirty percent tariff on steel imports into the
United States in March 2002. This belongs to which of the following categories?
A. General
B. Ad valorem
C. Specific
D. Ad hoc
43. Tariffs:
A. reduce the price of foreign goods.
B. reduce the overall efficiency of the world economy.
C. help in efficient utilization of resources.
D. are unambiguously pro-consumer and anti-producer.
6-7
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
46. _____ take many forms including cash grants, low-interest loans, tax breaks, and
government equity participation in domestic firms.
A. Ad valorem tariffs
B. Subsidies
C. Quota rents
D. Specific tariffs
48. _____ tend(s) to be one of the largest beneficiaries of subsidies in most countries.
A. Banks
B. Commercial airlines
C. Agriculture
D. Defense
49. By lowering production costs, _____ help domestic producers compete against foreign
imports.
A. tariffs
B. custom duties
C. quotas
D. subsidies
6-8
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
51. Advocates of _____ believe that subsidies can help a firm achieve a first-mover advantage
in an emerging industry.
A. strategic trade policy
B. free trade
C. open market system
D. justice theories
52. Which of the following groups would most benefit from receiving subsidies?
A. Governments
B. Consumers
C. Domestic producers
D. Importers
53. An import quota is a direct restriction on the quantity of some good that may be
__________ by a country.
A. subsidized
B. imported
C. dumped
D. produced
54. Under a(n) _____, a lower tariff rate is applied to imports within the quota than those over
the quota.
A. tariff rate quota
B. voluntary import restraint
C. import tariff rent
D. quota rent
55. A(n) _____ is a quota on trade imposed by the exporting country, typically at the request
of the importing country's government.
A. tariff rate quota
B. quota rent
C. import quota
D. voluntary export restraint (VER)
6-9
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
57. Agreeing to a VER is seen by foreign producers as a way to make the best of a bad
situation by appeasing _____ pressures in a country.
A. free trade
B. protectionist
C. libertarian
D. consumer
58. The Multi-Fiber Agreement (MFA) of 1974 fixed upper limits on exports of textiles from
all major exporting countries to all major importing countries. The MFA is an example of:
A. voluntary export restraint.
B. local content requirement.
C. subsidy.
D. specific tariff.
59. The extra profit that producers make when supply is artificially limited by an import quota
is referred to as a:
A. trade surplus.
B. quota rent.
C. trade reconciliation.
D. profit hike margin.
60. Both import quotas and VERs benefit _____ by limiting import competition, but they
result in higher prices, which hurt _____.
A. domestic producers; consumers
B. governments; domestic producers
C. importers; foreign producers
D. consumers; governments
6-10
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
61. A(n) _____ requires that some specific fraction of a good must be produced domestically.
A. international allocation requirement
B. local content requirement
C. specific quota requirement
D. ad valorem portion requirement
62. Local content regulations have been widely used by developing countries to shift their
manufacturing base from the simple _____ of goods whose parts are manufactured elsewhere
into the local _____ of component parts.
A. production; integration
B. assembly; manufacture
C. design; assembly
D. generation; packaging
63. Local content regulations provide protection for a domestic producer of parts in much the
same way a(n) _____ does, by limiting foreign competition.
A. greenfield investment
B. international content requirement
C. specific content requirement
D. import quota
64. If Apple won an order to sell 500 new minicomputers to Australia, but the Australian
government stipulated that 20 percent of the component parts of the minicomputers it
purchased must be produced in Australia, that stipulation would be an example of a(n):
A. voluntary export restraint.
B. administrative policy.
C. import quota.
D. local content requirement.
6-11
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
65. The _____ in the U.S. specifies that government agencies must give preference to
American products when putting contracts for equipment out to bid unless the foreign
products have a significant price advantage.
A. Export Administration Act
B. Helms-Burton Act
C. Hawley-Burton Act
D. Buy America Act
66. In addition to the formal instruments of trade policy, informal bureaucratic rules that are
designed to make it difficult for imports to enter a country are referred to as:
A. regional trade inhibitors.
B. back-door trade policies.
C. domestic trade hurdles.
D. administrative trade policies.
67. At one time, the French government required that all imported videotape recorders arrive
in France through a small customs entry point that was both remote and poorly staffed. This is
an example of a(n):
A. regional trade inhibitor.
B. domestic business hurdle.
C. administrative trade policy.
D. ad hoc red tape.
68. _____ are specific duties representing a special tariff for punishing foreign firms engaged
in dumping, which can be fairly substantial and stay in place for up to five years.
A. Punitive damages
B. Civil duties
C. Import damages
D. Countervailing duties
6-12
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
69. In the context of international trade, _____ is defined as selling goods in a foreign market
at a price below their costs of production or as selling goods in a foreign market at below their
"fair" market price.
A. monopolizing
B. dumping
C. slashing
D. subsidizing
70. If China were to export vast quantities of cheap toys to India, selling them at below their
costs of production, it would constitute:
A. monopolism.
B. dumping.
C. slashing.
D. safeguarding.
71. In the context of dumping, predatory behavior can be described as foreign producers:
A. attempting hostile takeovers of domestic firms and usurping the available resources for
production.
B. indiscriminately exploiting the natural resources of a foreign country to create a later
demand that can be met only by imports.
C. eliminating competition by subsidizing prices in a foreign market with home market profits
and eventually raising prices to earn substantial profits.
D. buying goods of competing domestic firms and hoarding them to create an artificial
demand, and exporting those goods at higher prices.
72. One of the motives for foreign firms engaged in dumping may be:
A. unloading excess production in foreign markets.
B. cutting labor costs to reduce the costs of production.
C. offering a wider range of products for consumers in foreign markets.
D. offering competitive pricing for goods that are not produced in foreign countries.
6-13
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
73. An alleged example of _____ occurred in 1997, when two Korean manufacturers of
semiconductors, LG Semicon and Hyundai Electronics, were accused of selling dynamic
random access memory chips in the U.S. market at below their costs of production.
A. dumping
B. monopolizing
C. slicing
D. subsidizing
74. The two US agencies that deal with antidumping complaints are the:
A. Economic Offences Wing and Conciliation Services.
B. International Trade Commission and the Industry Council.
C. Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission.
D. Federal Trade Commission and the Economic Council.
76. In general, what are the two paths of arguments for government intervention into the free
flow of trade?
A. Political and cultural
B. Economic and legal
C. Political and economic
D. Legal and social
77. Furthering the goals of foreign policy and advancing the human rights of individuals in
exporting countries are examples of issues covered by _____ for government intervention.
A. political arguments
B. humanitarian arguments
C. legal arguments
D. economic arguments
6-14
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
78. _____ arguments for government intervention into international trade are typically
concerned with boosting the overall wealth of a nation.
A. Economic
B. Political
C. Legal
D. Commercial
79. Which of the following is perhaps the most common political argument for government
intervention into the free flow of trade?
A. Protecting national identity
B. Protecting national sovereignty from being usurped by supranational organizations
C. Protecting jobs and industries from unfair foreign competition
D. Improving efficiency of domestic labor
80. At times, countries contend that it is necessary to protect industries such as those related
to defense—aerospace, advanced electronics, and semiconductors—because these industries
are important for:
A. retaining innovation.
B. national entrepreneurial spirit.
C. national security.
D. diplomatic reasons.
81. Some argue that governments should use the threat of _____ to intervene in trade policy
as a bargaining tool to help open foreign markets and force trading partners to "play by the
rules of the game."
A. free trade
B. deregulation
C. retaliation
D. liberalization
6-15
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
83. In 2006, several countries of the European Union and U.S. banned imports of Mattel toys
with high levels of lead, manufactured in China. The underlying motive for such a move
could be:
A. protecting domestic businesses from unfair pricing.
B. protesting the pricing of toys below their costs of production.
C. protecting consumers from unsafe products.
D. increasing the trade surplus of the U.S.
84. Which of the following would be a likely action motivated by the desire of governments
to protect their consumers from unsafe products?
A. Placing tariffs on imports of foreign steel, by the Bush administration in 2002
B. Threatening 100 percent tariffs on a range of Chinese products violating intellectual
property laws
C. Outlawing importation, sale, or use of genetically modified organisms by Austria and
Luxembourg
D. Passing legislations such as the D'Amato Act and the Helms-Burton Act targeting products
from Libya, Iran, and Cuba
85. Which of the following actions reflect the use of trade policies by governments to further
their foreign policy objectives?
A. Pressuring "rogue states" that do not abide by international law or norms
B. Enforcing tougher intellectual property regulations
C. Threatening high tariffs and quotas
D. Limiting or banning imports of unsafe or substandard products
6-16
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
86. U.S. trade sanctions against Cuba, Libya, and Iran are examples of:
A. governments protecting domestic consumers from unsafe products.
B. governments using trade policy to support their foreign policy objectives.
C. governments protecting local businesses from international competition.
D. governments punishing foreign companies for dumping products in their markets.
87. Legislation that allows Americans to sue foreign firms that use property in Cuba
confiscated from them after the 1959 revolution is known as the:
A. Frederick-Peterson Act.
B. D'Amato-Perkins Act.
C. Perkins-Dole Act.
D. Helms-Burton Act.
88. Which one of the following Acts represents U.S. legislation that is similar to the Helms-
Burton Act, but is aimed at Libya and Iran?
A. Perkin's Act
B. D'Amato Act
C. Williams Act
D. Cato Act
89. _____ status allows countries to export goods to the U.S. under favorable terms.
A. Most favored nation
B. Preferred trade partner
C. Strategic ally
D. Friendly state
90. China did not join the WTO until 2001, so historically the decision of whether to grant
MFN status to China was a real one. The decision was made more difficult by the perception
that China had a(n) _____.
A. unskilled and unemployable population
B. high-cost labor structure
C. poor human rights record
D. large population
6-17
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
91. Environmental organizations pushing for greater regulation of international trade argue
that there is a strong relationship between _____ and environmental pollution and
degradation.
A. dumping
B. trade sanctions
C. income levels
D. factor endowments
92. Empirical evidence suggests the relationship between income levels and pollution is not a
linear one—rather it is an inverted U-shaped relationship—implying that international trade,
and the growth that results from it, may not be damaging to the environment. Important
exceptions to this trend are:
A. pollution levels evidenced in burgeoning economies like China and India.
B. incidents like the Chernobyl disaster and Tokaimura nuclear accident.
C. results revealing rise in carbon dioxide emissions with rise in income levels.
D. frequent oil spills occurring in various seas across the world.
93. Which of the following is one of the reasons offered to explain the high levels of carbon
dioxide emissions in developed countries like the U.S.?
A. Richer societies are more energy intensive and use carbon dioxide rich hydrocarbons
extensively.
B. Developed countries tend to be more densely populated than other countries and hence
reflect higher carbon dioxide emissions.
C. Companies in developed countries are less likely to take up social responsibility initiatives
than those in developing countries.
D. Developed countries generally have environmental pollution regulations less stringent than
those in developing countries.
94. If countries do not meet their targets for reducing carbon emissions specified in
international treaties, they may find themselves the targets of _____.
A. dumping
B. inflation
C. economic crisis
D. retaliatory action
6-18
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
95. According to the text, which of the following factors is likely to be the least important in
determining location decisions for businesses?
A. Labor productivity
B. Transportation costs
C. Pollution abatement costs
D. Access to technological know-how
96. With the development of the _____ and _____, the economic arguments for government
intervention have undergone a renaissance in recent years.
A. technology; WTO
B. free trade; democratic governments
C. new trade theory; strategic trade policy
D. democratic governments; anti-globalization movement
97. Which of the following is by far, the oldest economic argument for government
intervention into the free flow of trade?
A. Impoverished industry argument
B. Infant industry argument
C. Sick industry argument
D. National security-related industry argument
98. According to _____, many developing countries have a potential comparative advantage
in manufacturing, but new manufacturing industries cannot initially compete with well-
established industries in developed countries.
A. mercantilism
B. comparative advantage theory
C. product life-cycle theory
D. infant industry argument
6-19
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
99. _____ has recognized the infant industry argument as a legitimate reason for
protectionism.
A. GATT
B. North Atlantic Treaty Organization
C. United Nations
D. International Monetary Fund
100. One of the main reasons why many economists remain critical of the infant industry
argument is its assumption that:
A. protection of manufacturing from foreign competition is harmful.
B. absolute advantage cannot sustain productivity of an industry.
C. foreign firms too come under the definition of infant industry when they newly enter a
foreign market.
D. firms are unable to make efficient long-term investments through domestic or international
capital markets.
101. Protection of manufacturing from foreign competition does no good unless the
protection:
A. helps make the industry efficient.
B. provides guaranteed employment for the citizens.
C. affects the standards of living and per capita income of the people.
D. promotes foreign direct investment.
102. Given financial support, firms based in countries with a potential comparative advantage
have an incentive to endure the necessary initial losses in order to make long-run gains
without requiring _____.
A. good governance
B. latest technology
C. government protection
D. regular monitoring
6-20
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
103. According to the text, given efficient global capital markets, the only industries that
would require government protection would be:
A. those that are not worthwhile.
B. defense-related, such as aerospace and semiconductors.
C. chemical and processing industries.
D. those that require efficient administration.
104. A government should use subsidies to support promising firms that are active in newly
emerging industries, according to the _____ argument.
A. strategic trade policy
B. infant industry
C. absolute advantage
D. product life-cycle
105. According to the text, governments should target technologies that may be important in
the future and use _____ to support development work aimed at commercializing those
technologies.
A. subsidies
B. sanctions
C. factor endowments
D. personnel
106. An important component of strategic trade policy is that it might pay governments to
intervene in an industry if it helps domestic firms overcome the barriers to entry created by
foreign firms that have already reaped _____.
A. all available profits
B. first-mover advantages
C. comparative advantage
D. foreign direct investment
6-21
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
107. To try and establish Airbus as a global competitor against Boeing, the governments of
Britain, France, Germany, and Spain:
A. threatened 100% tariffs on the import of Boeing aircraft.
B. drafted legislations that required 25% of Boeing's aircraft by value to be manufactured in
Europe.
C. imposed import quotas on American-manufactured Boeing aircraft.
D. pooled in subsidies worth $15 billion.
108. The strategic trade policy arguments of the new trade theorists challenge the rationale for
unrestricted free trade found in the work of classic trade theorists. In response to this
challenge to economic orthodoxy, a number of economists—including some of those
responsible for the development of the new trade theory, such as Paul Krugman are:
A. advocating a world-wide swing toward mixed economies.
B. debunking assertions made by Adam Smith and David Ricardo.
C. making a revised case for free trade.
D. pointing out that in practice free trade may be unworkable.
109. According to Paul Krugman, a country that attempts to use strategic trade policy to
establish a domestic firm in a dominant position in a global industry will probably:
A. dominate the industry.
B. move away from protectionism.
C. provoke retaliation.
D. incur huge financial debts.
110. According to Krugman, the ideal way for a country to respond when one's competitors
are already being supported by government subsidies is probably not to engage in retaliatory
action but to:
A. help establish rules that minimize the use of trade-distorting subsidies.
B. adopt the strategic trade policy as a way to establish domestic firms in a dominant position
in the global industry.
C. move to an industry where the competitors have not had the benefit of such strategic trade
policies.
D. use a combination of home-market protection and export-promoting subsidies.
6-22
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
111. According to Krugman, one of the reasons for not embracing strategic trade policy is that
such a policy might:
A. hamper the chances of a country's firms to effectively exploit first-mover advantages.
B. be captured by special-interest groups within the economy for personal benefits.
C. be used to establish rules of the game that minimize use of trade-distorting subsidies.
D. divert attention from the need to establish domestic firms in a dominant position in the
global industry.
112. Which of the following historical events signified the first official embracing of free
trade as a government policy by Great Britain?
A. The Union of the Crowns in 1603
B. The repeal of the Corn Laws by the British Parliament in 1846
C. The Treaty of American Independence in 1783
D. The Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries
113. Which of the following represents the reason for the British Parliament repealing the
Corn Laws in 1846?
A. Opium wars that polarized world opinion against Great Britain
B. Prospect of harvest failure in Britain and famine in Ireland
C. Imminent threat of rebellions in most of its colonies
D. Labor party taking over the government from the Liberal Conservatives
114. According to the text, the only reason Great Britain pushed the case for trade
liberalization for as long as 80 years in the 19th century was that:
A. it was starting to lose the military stranglehold over much of its colonies.
B. the emergence of the U.S. threatened its position as the most industrialized nation.
C. it stood to lose the most from a trade war.
D. it had experienced severe famines and droughts in the earlier part of the 19th century.
6-23
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
115. The economically damaging effects of the Great Depression were worsened in 1929 by
the _____.
A. First World War
B. U.S. stock market collapse
C. spread of communism through Europe
D. Cold War between the world's superpowers
116. Which one of the following aimed at avoiding rising unemployment by protecting
domestic industry and diverting consumer demand away from foreign products, erected an
enormous wall of tariff barriers?
A. Smoot-Hawley Act
B. D'Amato Act
C. Helms-Burton Act
D. Buy America Act
117. A particularly odd aspect of the Smoot-Hawley tariff-raising binge was that the United
States was running a balance-of-payment surplus at the time and it was the world's largest
_____ nation.
A. debtor
B. free-trade
C. importing
D. creditor
118. Established under U.S. leadership in 1947, which of the following was a multilateral
agreement whose objective was to liberalize trade by eliminating tariffs, subsidies, import
quotas, and the like?
A. General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
B. North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
C. Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)
D. Free Trade Areas of the Americas (FTAA)
6-24
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
120. One of the reasons that protectionist pressures arose around the world during the 1980s
was:
A. that many countries found ways to get around GATT regulations.
B. the opening up of national markets to cheap products from China.
C. the fall of the Soviet Union.
D. the persistent trade lead taken by the United States.
121. _____ is one of the ways in which countries can circumvent GATT regulations and is
exemplified by the agreement between Japan and America under which Japanese producers
promised to limit their auto imports into the United States.
A. Voluntary export restraint
B. Import quota
C. Specific tariff
D. Quota rent
6-25
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
123. The main effect of the Uruguay Round Agreement on agricultural products was that:
A. caps were imposed on textile exports.
B. farm subsidies were reduced.
C. tariffs on industrial goods were increased.
D. a wide range of agricultural services were exempted from GATT rules.
124. All of the following were provisions of the Uruguay Round Agreement EXCEPT:
A. clearer and stronger GATT rules.
B. extension of GATT fair trade and market access rules to cover a wider range of services.
C. substantial reduction in agricultural subsidies.
D. increase in tariffs on industrial goods in lieu of the reduction in agricultural subsidies.
125. Which of the following has taken over responsibility to arbitrate trade disputes and
monitor the trade policies of member countries and resulted because of the Uruguay Round
agreement?
A. World Bank
B. World Trade Organization
C. International Trade Commission
D. International Monetary Fund
126. The WTO's Agreement on _____ is an attempt to narrow the gaps in the way intellectual
property rights are protected around the world and to bring them under common international
rules.
A. International Body on Intellectual Property (IBIP)
B. Court of Arbitration of Intellectual Property (CAIP)
C. Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)
D. Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement and Resolution (IPER)
127. Countries that have been found by the arbitration panel to violate GATT rules may
appeal to _____ of the World Trade Organization, but its verdict is binding.
A. human rights commission
B. permanent appellate body
C. International Court of Justice
D. Security Council
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
128. The millennium round of talks of WTO attempted to get the assembled countries to agree
to work toward:
A. agreeing on raising barriers to cross-border trade.
B. strengthening their defense ties and carry on with their war against terror.
C. reducing barriers to cross-border trade in agricultural products and trade and investment in
services.
D. increasing average tariff rates imposed by developing nations on manufactured goods to
more than four percent of value, the highest level in modern history.
129. Two of the first industries targeted for reform by the WTO with a view to encompass
regulations governing foreign direct investment were:
A. global telecommunication and financial services industries.
B. scientific research and defense sector.
C. pharmaceuticals and heavy metal industry.
D. agriculture and biotechnology.
130. Which of the following countries, with minor exceptions, is fully open to inward
investment by foreign banks, insurance, and security companies?
A. Russia
B. Cuba
C. Venezuela
D. The United States
131. Human rights activists see WTO rules as _____ the ability of nations to stop imports
from countries where child labor is used or working conditions are hazardous.
A. enabling
B. outlawing
C. supplementing
D. facilitating
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
132. One of the loopholes in antidumping laws that is being exploited by many countries to
pursue protectionism is the:
A. toothlessness of the enforcement agencies.
B. WTO's non-committal approach to antidumping laws.
C. bilateral VERs which subvert antidumping laws.
D. rather vague definition of what constitutes "dumping."
134. _____ are the highest rate that can be charged, which is often, but not always, the rate
that is charged.
A. Ceiling rates
B. Specific tariffs
C. Bound tariff rates
D. Ad maximum rates
135. Which of the following has been excluded from the agenda for the Doha round of WTO
talks that began in 2001?
A. Reducing barriers to cross-border investment
B. Phasing out subsidies to agricultural producers
C. Limiting the use of antidumping laws
D. Attempts to tie trade to labor standards in a country
136. The threat of antidumping action limits the ability of a firm to:
A. raise capital in the primary market.
B. raise prices in response to high demand.
C. disperse its productive activities in an efficient manner.
D. use aggressive pricing to gain market share in a country.
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
137. According to the text, most economists would probably argue that the best interests of
international business are served by a free trade stance, but not a _____ stance.
A. facilitating
B. open market
C. laissez-faire
D. ad valorem
Essay Questions
138. What is a tariff? Describe the difference between specific tariffs and ad valorem tariffs,
illustrating each with an example.
139. Who gains and who loses from the imposition of a tariff on imported goods? How can it
be determined whether the net gain from the tariff exceeds the net loss?
140. What is a subsidy? Provide some examples of the forms that subsidies take. How do
subsidies help domestic producers?
6-29
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
141. What is a voluntary export restraint? Why do exporting countries agree to VERs?
Explain with an example.
142. What is local content requirement? How can local content requirements typically be
expressed? How have local content requirements been used as trade barriers?
143. What are the principle political arguments for government intervention into international
trade?
144. Describe briefly, with examples, the use of trade policies by governments to support their
foreign policy objectives.
6-30
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
145. What is the "infant industry argument"? What are its implications for the world
economy? What are the criticisms of this argument?
146. Briefly describe the implications of the strategic trade policy as applied to international
trade.
147. Give a brief description of the origin, functions, and successes of GATT from 1947 to
1979, before protectionist trends gained momentum across the world.
148. Describe how the world trade system erected by GATT came under strain from
protectionist trends that dominated the world economy from 1980 to 1993.
6-31
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
149. State the provisions that were formed after the completion of the Uruguay Round of
talks.
150. Explain the organizational structure of the WTO and mention the functions of its key
organs.
152. List the fours issues at the forefront of the current agenda of the WTO.
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
Trade policy uses seven main instruments: tariffs, subsidies, import quotas, voluntary export
restraints, local content requirements, administrative policies, and antidumping duties.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
2. (p. 205) Tariffs are the most complex instrument of trade policy.
FALSE
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
6-33
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
3. (p. 205, 206) Tariffs are the instrument that the GATT and WTO have been most successful in
limiting.
TRUE
Tariffs are the instrument of trade policy that GATT and WTO have been most successful in
limiting.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
4. (p. 206) In recent decades, a fall in subsidies, quotas, and voluntary export restraints has been
accompanied by a corresponding fall in nontariff barriers.
FALSE
A fall in tariff barriers in recent decades has been accompanied by a rise in nontariff barriers,
such as subsidies, quotas, voluntary export restraints, and antidumping duties.
5. (p. 206) Nontariff barriers include subsidies, quotas, voluntary export restraints, and
antidumping duties.
TRUE
A fall in tariff barriers in recent decades has been accompanied by a rise in nontariff barriers,
such as subsidies, quotas, voluntary export restraints, and antidumping duties.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
6-34
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
6. (p. 206) Specific tariffs are levied as a proportion of the value of the imported good.
FALSE
Specific tariffs are levied as a fixed charge for each unit of a good imported.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
7. (p. 206) Ad valorem tariffs reduce the cost of imported products relative to domestic
products.
FALSE
Tariffs, specific and ad valorem, are placed on imports to protect domestic producers from
foreign competition by raising the price of imported goods.
Tariffs are pro-producer and anti-consumer. While they protect producers from foreign
competitors, this restriction of supply also raises domestic prices.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
6-35
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
9. (p. 206) Tariffs increase the overall efficiency of the world economy because a protective
tariff encourages domestic firms to produce products more efficiently at home that, in theory,
could be produced abroad.
FALSE
Import tariffs reduce the overall efficiency of the world economy because a protective tariff
encourages domestic firms to produce products at home that, in theory, could be produced
more efficiently abroad.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
10. (p. 207) Export tariffs are far less common than import tariffs.
TRUE
Sometimes tariffs are levied on exports of a product from a country. Export tariffs are far less
common than import tariffs.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
11. (p. 207) The main gains from subsidies accrue to importers, whose international
competitiveness is increased as a result of these subsidies.
FALSE
The main gains from subsidies accrue to domestic producers, whose international
competitiveness is increased as a result.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
6-36
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
12. (p. 207) Japan has a long history of supporting inefficient domestic producers with farm
subsidies.
TRUE
Agriculture tends to be one of the largest beneficiaries of subsidies in most countries. Japan
has long history of supporting inefficient domestic producers with farm subsidies. Even the
European Union and the U.S. are not exempt from this rule.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
13. (p. 208) A direct restriction on the quantity of some good that may be imported into a
country is a quota rent.
FALSE
An import quota is a direct restriction on the quantity of some good that may be imported into
a country. The restriction is usually enforced by issuing import licenses to a group of
individuals or firms.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
As with all restrictions on trade, quotas do not benefit consumers. An import quota or
voluntary export restraint always raises the domestic price of an imported good.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
6-37
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
15. (p. 210) The Buy America Act specifies that government agencies must give preference to
American products when putting contracts for equipment out for bid unless the foreign
products have a significant advantage.
TRUE
A little-known law in the United States, the Buy America Act, specifies that government
agencies must give preference to American products when putting contracts for equipment out
to bid unless the foreign products have a significant price advantage.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
16. (p. 210) Administrative trade policies are bureaucratic rules that are designed to make it easy
for imports to enter a country.
FALSE
In addition to the formal instruments of trade policy, governments of all types sometimes use
informal or administrative policies to restrict imports and boost exports. Administrative trade
policies are bureaucratic rules designed to make it difficult for imports to enter a country.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
17. (p. 211) Dumping is variously defined as selling goods in a foreign market at below their
costs of production, or as selling goods in a foreign market at below their "fair" market value.
TRUE
Dumping is defined as selling goods in a foreign market at below their costs of production or
"fair" market value. Dumping is viewed as a method by which firms unload excess production
in foreign markets.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
6-38
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
18. (p. 211) Antidumping policies are designed to punish foreign firms that engage in dumping
industrial waste into the environment.
FALSE
Dumping is variously defined as selling goods in a foreign market at below their costs of
production or as selling goods in a foreign market at below their "fair" market value.
Antidumping policies are designed to punish foreign firms that engage in dumping and thus
protect domestic producers from unfair foreign competition.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
19. (p. 211) The fair market value of a good is normally judged to be lesser than the costs of
producing that good.
FALSE
The fair market value of a good is normally judged to be greater than the costs of producing
that good as the former includes a "fair" profit margin.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
20. (p. 213) Countries sometimes argue that it is necessary to protect certain industries because
they are important for national security.
TRUE
Countries sometimes argue that it is necessary to protect certain industries because they are
important for national security. Defense-related industries often get this kind of attention (e.g.,
aerospace, advanced electronics, semiconductors, etc.).
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-02
Topic: The Case for Government Intervention
6-39
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
21. (p. 213) Protecting consumers from "dangerous" products and furthering the goals of foreign
policy are types of economic arguments for intervention.
FALSE
Political arguments for government intervention cover a range of issues, including protecting
consumers from "dangerous" products, furthering the goals of foreign policy.
22. (p. 217) The relationship between pollution and income levels follows a linear pattern.
FALSE
Empirical evidence suggests the relationship between income levels and pollution is not a
linear one—rather it is an inverted U-shaped relationship. To begin with, as countries start to
climb the ladder of economic progress, pollution levels do increase, but past some threshold,
they start to decline.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02
Topic: The Case for Government Intervention
23. (p. 219) The infant industry argument is the oldest economic argument for government
intervention.
TRUE
The infant industry argument is by far the oldest economic argument for government
intervention.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-02
Topic: The Case for Government Intervention
6-40
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
24. (p. 219) Until the early 1980s, most economists saw little benefit in government intervention
and strongly advocated a free trade policy.
TRUE
Until the early 1980s, most economists saw little benefit in government intervention and
strongly advocated a free trade policy. This position has changed at the margins with the
development of strategic trade policy, although there are still strong economic arguments for
sticking to a free trade stance.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-02
Topic: The Case for Government Intervention
25. (p. 219) Brazil's auto industry, once the world's tenth-largest and built behind tariff barriers
and quotas, has been proven as one of the world's most inefficient.
TRUE
Brazil built the world's tenth-largest auto industry behind tariff barriers and quotas. Once
those barriers were removed in the late 1980s, however, foreign imports soared, and the
industry was forced to face up to the fact that after 30 years of protection, Brazil had one of
the world's most inefficient industry.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02
Topic: The Case for Government Intervention
26. (p. 219) Protection of manufacturing from foreign competition does no good unless the
protection helps make the industry efficient.
TRUE
Protection of manufacturing from foreign competition does no good unless the protection
helps make the industry efficient.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02
Topic: The Case for Government Intervention
6-41
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
27. (p. 221) The roots of strategic trade policy arguments can be traced back to the late 18th
century and the works of Adam Smith and David Ricardo.
FALSE
The strategic trade policy arguments of the new trade theorists suggest an economic
justification for government intervention in international trade which challenges the rationale
for unrestricted free trade found in the work of classic trade theorists such as Adam Smith and
David Ricardo.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-03
Topic: The Revised Case for Free Trade
28. (p. 221) Several economists, including Paul Krugman, point out that although free trade
policy looks appealing in theory, in practice it may be unworkable.
FALSE
In response to the challenge to economic orthodoxy posed by new trade theory, which argues
for government intervention, a number of economists—including some of those responsible
for the development of the new trade theory, such as Paul Krugman—point out that although
strategic trade policy looks appealing in theory, in practice it may be unworkable.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 06-03
Topic: The Revised Case for Free Trade
6-42
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
29. (p. 223) The Smoot-Hawley Act was a multilateral agreement whose objective was to
liberalize trade by eliminating tariffs, subsidies, and import quotas.
FALSE
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-04
Topic: Development of the World Trading System
30. (p. 224) In the Uruguay Round of the WTO, member countries sought to exempt trade in
services from GATT rules.
FALSE
Against the background of rising pressures for protectionism, in 1986 GATT members
embarked on their eighth round of negotiations to reduce tariffs, the Uruguay Round. Until
then, GATT rules had applied only to trade in manufactured goods and commodities. In the
Uruguay Round, member countries sought to extend GATT rules to cover trade in services.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-04
Topic: Development of the World Trading System
6-43
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
31. (p. 227) The United States wanted the WTO to allow governments to impose tariffs on goods
imported from countries that did not abide by what the United States saw as fair labor
practices during a WTO meeting at the end of November 1999.
TRUE
During the Seattle round of WTO talks, the United States wanted the WTO to allow
governments to impose tariffs on goods imported from countries that did not abide by what
the United States saw as fair labor practices. Representatives from developing nations reacted
angrily to this proposal, suggesting it was simply an attempt by the United States to find a
legal way of restricting imports from poorer nations.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-04
Topic: Development of the World Trading System
32. (p. 228) Antidumping actions seem to be concentrated in certain sectors of the economy such
as basic metal industries (e.g., aluminum and steel), chemicals, plastics, and machinery and
electrical equipment.
TRUE
Antidumping actions seem to be concentrated in certain sectors of the economy such as basic
metal industries (e.g., aluminum and steel), chemicals, plastics, and machinery and electrical
equipment. These sectors account for some 70 percent of all antidumping actions reported to
the WTO.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-04
Topic: Development of the World Trading System
6-44
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
33. (p. 230) The biggest defenders of agricultural subsidies are the developed nations of the
world.
TRUE
The biggest defenders of agricultural subsidies have been the advanced nations of the world,
which want to protect their agricultural sectors from competition by low-cost producers in
developing nations. In contrast, developing nations have been pushing hard for reforms that
would allow their producers greater access to the protected markets of the developed nations.
34. (p. 230) Free trade in agriculture could help to jump-start economic growth among the
world's poorer nations and alleviate global poverty.
TRUE
Estimates suggest that removing all subsidies on agricultural production alone in OECD
countries could return to the developing nations of the world three times more than all the
foreign aid they currently receive from the OECD nations. In other words, free trade in
agriculture could help to jump-start economic growth among the world's poorer nations and
alleviate global poverty.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-04
Topic: Development of the World Trading System
6-45
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
35. (p. 235) The threat of antidumping action enhances the ability of a firm to use aggressive
pricing to gain market share in a country.
FALSE
The threat of antidumping action limits the ability of a firm to use aggressive pricing to gain
market share in a country. Firms in a country also can make strategic use of antidumping
measures to limit aggressive competition from low-cost foreign producers.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 06-05
Topic: Focus on Managerial Implications
36. (p. 236) Government intervention may invite retaliation and trigger a trade war.
TRUE
Government intervention can be self-defeating because it tends to protect the inefficient rather
than help firms become efficient global competitors. Intervention is dangerous; it may invite
retaliation and trigger a trade war. Intervention is unlikely to be well executed, given the
opportunity for such a policy to be captured by special-interest groups.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-05
Topic: Focus on Managerial Implications
6-46
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
37. (p. 205) Which of the following is one of the seven main instruments utilized in trade
policy?
A. Local content requirements
B. Licensing
C. Foreign direct investment
D. Employment guarantees
Trade policy uses seven main instruments: tariffs, subsidies, import quotas, voluntary export
restraints, local content requirements, administrative policies, and antidumping duties.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
38. (p. 206) While _____ tariffs are levied as a fixed charge for each unit of a good imported,
_____ tariffs are levied as a proportion of the value of the imported good.
A. ground; ceiling
B. ad hoc; nonconvertible
C. posited; floating
D. specific; ad valorem
Tariffs fall into two categories - specific tariffs are levied as a fixed charge for each unit of a
good imported and ad valorem tariffs are levied as a proportion of the value of the imported
good.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
6-47
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
39. (p. 206) Tariffs cause damage to _____ because this group must pay more for certain
imports.
A. investors
B. governments
C. consumers
D. producers
Consumers stand to lose more due to tariffs than governments and domestic producers as they
must pay more for certain imports.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
40. (p. 206) According to experts, which of the following groups most benefits from the
imposition of tariffs?
A. Government and producers
B. Consumers and trade associations
C. Exporters and importers
D. Producers and foreign competitors
Due to imposition of import tariffs, the government gains, because the tariff increases
government revenues, and domestic producers gain, because the tariff affords them some
protection against foreign competitors by increasing the cost of imported foreign goods.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
6-48
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
41. (p. 206) A protective tariff encourages domestic firms to produce products at home that, in
theory, could be produced more efficiently abroad. This results in:
A. an establishment of a comparative advantage over firms from other countries.
B. improved productivity of the labor workforce in that country.
C. higher mobility of resources within the country.
D. an inefficient utilization of resources.
Import tariffs reduce the overall efficiency of the world economy. They reduce efficiency
because a protective tariff encourages domestic firms to produce products at home that, in
theory, could be produced more efficiently abroad. The consequence is an inefficient
utilization of resources.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
42. (p. 206) The U.S. government imposed an eight to thirty percent tariff on steel imports into
the United States in March 2002. This belongs to which of the following categories?
A. General
B. Ad valorem
C. Specific
D. Ad hoc
Tariffs fall into two categories—specific tariffs are levied as a fixed charge for each unit of a
good imported and ad valorem tariffs are levied as a proportion of the value of the imported
good.
6-49
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
Tariffs are pro-producer and anti-consumer, increase the prices of imported goods, and reduce
the overall efficiency of the world economy.
Sometimes tariffs are levied on exports of a product from a country in order to raise revenue
for the government and reduce exports from a sector, often for political reasons. For example,
in 2004, China imposed a tariff on textile exports to moderate the growth in exports of textiles
from China, thereby alleviating tensions with other trading partners.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
6-50
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
45. (p. 207) Which of the following is a government payment to a domestic producer?
A. Duty
B. Subsidy
C. Quota
D. Tariff
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
46. (p. 207) _____ take many forms including cash grants, low-interest loans, tax breaks, and
government equity participation in domestic firms.
A. Ad valorem tariffs
B. Subsidies
C. Quota rents
D. Specific tariffs
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
6-51
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
47. (p. 207) By lowering production costs, subsidies help domestic producers in:
A. gaining export markets.
B. curtailing exports to other countries.
C. meeting voluntary export restraints.
D. regulating the quality of services they offer.
By lowering production costs, subsidies help domestic producers in two ways: (1) competing
against foreign imports and (2) gaining export markets.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
48. (p. 207) _____ tend(s) to be one of the largest beneficiaries of subsidies in most countries.
A. Banks
B. Commercial airlines
C. Agriculture
D. Defense
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
6-52
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
49. (p. 207) By lowering production costs, _____ help domestic producers compete against
foreign imports.
A. tariffs
B. custom duties
C. quotas
D. subsidies
By lowering production costs, subsidies help domestic producers in two ways: (1) competing
against foreign imports and (2) gaining export markets.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
Government subsidies must be paid for, typically by taxing individuals and corporations.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
6-53
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
51. (p. 207) Advocates of _____ believe that subsidies can help a firm achieve a first-mover
advantage in an emerging industry.
A. strategic trade policy
B. free trade
C. open market system
D. justice theories
Advocates of strategic trade policy favor subsidies to help domestic firms achieve a dominant
position in those industries in which economies of scale are important and the world market is
not large enough to profitably support more than a few firms.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
52. (p. 207) Which of the following groups would most benefit from receiving subsidies?
A. Governments
B. Consumers
C. Domestic producers
D. Importers
The main gains from subsidies accrue to domestic producers, whose international
competitiveness is increased as a result. Advocates of strategic trade policy favor subsidies to
help domestic firms achieve a dominant position in those industries in which economies of
scale are important and the world market is not large enough to profitably support more than a
few firms.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
6-54
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
53. (p. 208) An import quota is a direct restriction on the quantity of some good that may be
__________ by a country.
A. subsidized
B. imported
C. dumped
D. produced
An import quota is a direct restriction on the quantity of some good that may be imported into
a country. The restriction is usually enforced by issuing import licenses to a group of
individuals or firms.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
54. (p. 209) Under a(n) _____, a lower tariff rate is applied to imports within the quota than
those over the quota.
A. tariff rate quota
B. voluntary import restraint
C. import tariff rent
D. quota rent
A common hybrid of a quota and a tariff is known as a tariff rate quota. Under a tariff rate
quota, a lower tariff rate is applied to imports within the quota than those over the quota.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
6-55
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
55. (p. 209) A(n) _____ is a quota on trade imposed by the exporting country, typically at the
request of the importing country's government.
A. tariff rate quota
B. quota rent
C. import quota
D. voluntary export restraint (VER)
A voluntary export restraint (VER) is a quota on trade imposed by the exporting country,
typically at the request of the importing country's government.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
56. (p. 209) Foreign producers agree to VERs because they fear:
A. a fall in demand for their products in foreign markets.
B. the aggravation of protectionist pressures in their home markets.
C. more damaging punitive tariffs or import quotas might follow if they do not.
D. political and economic instability in foreign markets.
Foreign producers agree to VERs because they fear more damaging punitive tariffs or import
quotas might follow if they do not. Agreeing to a VER is seen as a way to make the best of a
bad situation by appeasing protectionist pressures in a country.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
57. (p. 209) Agreeing to a VER is seen by foreign producers as a way to make the best of a bad
situation by appeasing _____ pressures in a country.
A. free trade
B. protectionist
C. libertarian
D. consumer
Foreign producers agree to VERs because they fear more damaging punitive tariffs or import
quotas might follow if they do not. Agreeing to a VER is seen as a way to make the best of a
bad situation by appeasing protectionist pressures in a country.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
58. (p. 209) The Multi-Fiber Agreement (MFA) of 1974 fixed upper limits on exports of textiles
from all major exporting countries to all major importing countries. The MFA is an example
of:
A. voluntary export restraint.
B. local content requirement.
C. subsidy.
D. specific tariff.
A variant of the import quota is the voluntary export restraint. A voluntary export restraint
(VER) is a quota on trade imposed by the exporting country, typically at the request of the
importing country's government.
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59. (p. 210) The extra profit that producers make when supply is artificially limited by an import
quota is referred to as a:
A. trade surplus.
B. quota rent.
C. trade reconciliation.
D. profit hike margin.
The extra profit that producers make when supply is artificially limited by an import quota is
referred to as a quota rent.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
60. (p. 209, 210) Both import quotas and VERs benefit _____ by limiting import competition, but
they result in higher prices, which hurt _____.
A. domestic producers; consumers
B. governments; domestic producers
C. importers; foreign producers
D. consumers; governments
As with all tariffs and subsidies, both import quotas and VERs benefit domestic producers by
limiting import competition and raise domestic prices of imported goods. When imports are
limited to a low percentage of the market by an import quota or VER, the price is bid up for
that limited foreign supply, hurting the customers.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
6-58
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
61. (p. 210) A(n) _____ requires that some specific fraction of a good must be produced
domestically.
A. international allocation requirement
B. local content requirement
C. specific quota requirement
D. ad valorem portion requirement
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
62. (p. 210) Local content regulations have been widely used by developing countries to shift
their manufacturing base from the simple _____ of goods whose parts are manufactured
elsewhere into the local _____ of component parts.
A. production; integration
B. assembly; manufacture
C. design; assembly
D. generation; packaging
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
6-59
Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
63. (p. 210) Local content regulations provide protection for a domestic producer of parts in
much the same way a(n) _____ does, by limiting foreign competition.
A. greenfield investment
B. international content requirement
C. specific content requirement
D. import quota
Local content regulations provide protection for a domestic producer of parts in the same way
an import quota does: by limiting foreign competition. The aggregate economic effects are
also the same; domestic producers benefit, but the restrictions on imports raise the prices of
imported components.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
64. (p. 210) If Apple won an order to sell 500 new minicomputers to Australia, but the
Australian government stipulated that 20 percent of the component parts of the minicomputers
it purchased must be produced in Australia, that stipulation would be an example of a(n):
A. voluntary export restraint.
B. administrative policy.
C. import quota.
D. local content requirement.
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
65. (p. 210) The _____ in the U.S. specifies that government agencies must give preference to
American products when putting contracts for equipment out to bid unless the foreign
products have a significant price advantage.
A. Export Administration Act
B. Helms-Burton Act
C. Hawley-Burton Act
D. Buy America Act
A little-known law in the United States, the Buy America Act, specifies that government
agencies must give preference to American products when putting contracts for equipment out
to bid unless the foreign products have a significant price advantage. The law specifies a
product as "American" if 51 percent of the materials by value are produced domestically.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
66. (p. 210) In addition to the formal instruments of trade policy, informal bureaucratic rules that
are designed to make it difficult for imports to enter a country are referred to as:
A. regional trade inhibitors.
B. back-door trade policies.
C. domestic trade hurdles.
D. administrative trade policies.
Administrative trade policies are bureaucratic rules designed to make it difficult for imports to
enter a country.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
67. (p. 211) At one time, the French government required that all imported videotape recorders
arrive in France through a small customs entry point that was both remote and poorly staffed.
This is an example of a(n):
A. regional trade inhibitor.
B. domestic business hurdle.
C. administrative trade policy.
D. ad hoc red tape.
Administrative trade policies are bureaucratic policies designed to make it difficult for
imports to enter a country. The French policy mentioned above effectively made it impractical
for a foreign company to export videotape recorders to France.
68. (p. 211) _____ are specific duties representing a special tariff for punishing foreign firms
engaged in dumping, which can be fairly substantial and stay in place for up to five years.
A. Punitive damages
B. Civil duties
C. Import damages
D. Countervailing duties
Antidumping laws punish foreign firms that engage in selling goods in a foreign market at
below their costs of production or "fair" market value. Erring foreign firms are imposed with
duties (countervailing duties) on the offending foreign imports. These duties, which represent
a special tariff, can be fairly substantial and stay in place for up to five years.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
69. (p. 211) In the context of international trade, _____ is defined as selling goods in a foreign
market at a price below their costs of production or as selling goods in a foreign market at
below their "fair" market price.
A. monopolizing
B. dumping
C. slashing
D. subsidizing
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
70. (p. 211) If China were to export vast quantities of cheap toys to India, selling them at below
their costs of production, it would constitute:
A. monopolism.
B. dumping.
C. slashing.
D. safeguarding.
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
71. (p. 211) In the context of dumping, predatory behavior can be described as foreign
producers:
A. attempting hostile takeovers of domestic firms and usurping the available resources for
production.
B. indiscriminately exploiting the natural resources of a foreign country to create a later
demand that can be met only by imports.
C. eliminating competition by subsidizing prices in a foreign market with home market profits
and eventually raising prices to earn substantial profits.
D. buying goods of competing domestic firms and hoarding them to create an artificial
demand, and exporting those goods at higher prices.
Dumping is viewed as a method by which firms unload excess production in foreign markets.
Some dumping may be the result of predatory behavior, with producers using substantial
profits from their home markets to subsidize prices in a foreign market with a view to driving
indigenous competitors out of that market. Once this has been achieved, so the argument goes,
the predatory firm can raise prices and earn substantial profits.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
72. (p. 211) One of the motives for foreign firms engaged in dumping may be:
A. unloading excess production in foreign markets.
B. cutting labor costs to reduce the costs of production.
C. offering a wider range of products for consumers in foreign markets.
D. offering competitive pricing for goods that are not produced in foreign countries.
Dumping is viewed as a method by which firms unload excess production in foreign markets.
For example, two South Korean manufacturers of semiconductors, LG Semicon and Hyundai
Electronics, were accused of selling dynamic random access memory chips (DRAMs) in the
U.S. market at below their costs of production. This action occurred in the middle of a
worldwide glut of chip-making capacity. It was alleged that the firms were trying to unload
their excess production in the United States.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
73. (p. 211) An alleged example of _____ occurred in 1997, when two Korean manufacturers of
semiconductors, LG Semicon and Hyundai Electronics, were accused of selling dynamic
random access memory chips in the U.S. market at below their costs of production.
A. dumping
B. monopolizing
C. slicing
D. subsidizing
74. (p. 211) The two US agencies that deal with antidumping complaints are the:
A. Economic Offences Wing and Conciliation Services.
B. International Trade Commission and the Industry Council.
C. Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission.
D. Federal Trade Commission and the Economic Council.
If a domestic producer believes that a foreign firm is dumping production in the U.S. market,
it can file a petition with two government agencies, the Commerce Department and the
International Trade Commission which investigate the complaint, and if found to have merit,
the Commerce Department may impose an antidumping duty on the offending foreign
imports.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
75. (p. 211) Which of the following is considered to be the ultimate objective of antidumping
policies?
A. Protect consumers from competitive pricing
B. Prevent domestic firms from unloading their excess production in domestic markets
C. Protect domestic producers from unfair foreign competition
D. Protect consumers from substandard and hazardous products
Antidumping policies are designed to punish foreign firms that engage in dumping. The
ultimate objective is to protect domestic producers from unfair foreign competition.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
76. (p. 212) In general, what are the two paths of arguments for government intervention into the
free flow of trade?
A. Political and cultural
B. Economic and legal
C. Political and economic
D. Legal and social
Arguments for government intervention take two paths: political and economic. Political
arguments for intervention are concerned with protecting the interests of certain groups within
a nation, often at the expense of other groups, or with achieving some political objective that
lies outside the sphere of economic relationships. Economic arguments for intervention are
typically concerned with boosting the overall wealth of a nation.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-02
Topic: The Case for Government Intervention
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
77. (p. 213) Furthering the goals of foreign policy and advancing the human rights of individuals
in exporting countries are examples of issues covered by _____ for government intervention.
A. political arguments
B. humanitarian arguments
C. legal arguments
D. economic arguments
Political arguments for government intervention cover a range of issues, including preserving
jobs, retaliating against unfair foreign competition, protecting consumers from "dangerous"
products, furthering the goals of foreign policy, and advancing the human rights of individuals
in exporting countries.
78. (p. 212) _____ arguments for government intervention into international trade are typically
concerned with boosting the overall wealth of a nation.
A. Economic
B. Political
C. Legal
D. Commercial
Economic arguments for intervention are typically concerned with boosting the overall wealth
of a nation (to the benefit of all, both producers and consumers).
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-02
Topic: The Case for Government Intervention
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
79. (p. 213) Which of the following is perhaps the most common political argument for
government intervention into the free flow of trade?
A. Protecting national identity
B. Protecting national sovereignty from being usurped by supranational organizations
C. Protecting jobs and industries from unfair foreign competition
D. Improving efficiency of domestic labor
Perhaps the most common political argument for government intervention is that it is
necessary for protecting jobs and industries from unfair foreign competition.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-02
Topic: The Case for Government Intervention
80. (p. 213) At times, countries contend that it is necessary to protect industries such as those
related to defense—aerospace, advanced electronics, and semiconductors—because these
industries are important for:
A. retaining innovation.
B. national entrepreneurial spirit.
C. national security.
D. diplomatic reasons.
Countries sometimes argue that it is necessary to protect certain industries because they are
important for national security. Defense-related industries often get this kind of attention (e.g.,
aerospace, advanced electronics, semiconductors, etc.)
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
81. (p. 213) Some argue that governments should use the threat of _____ to intervene in trade
policy as a bargaining tool to help open foreign markets and force trading partners to "play by
the rules of the game."
A. free trade
B. deregulation
C. retaliation
D. liberalization
Some argue that governments should use the threat of retaliation to intervene in trade policy
as a bargaining tool to help open foreign markets and force trading partners to "play by the
rules of the game."
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-02
Topic: The Case for Government Intervention
82. (p. 213, 214) Why is retaliation by government intervention a risky strategy?
A. It may liberalize trade and bring with it resulting economic gains.
B. A country that is being pressured may respond by raising trade barriers of its own.
C. It may expose certain industries that are important for national security to foreign
competition.
D. It allows firms to sell goods in foreign market at below their fair market value.
If it works, a politically motivated rationale for government intervention may liberalize trade
and bring with it resulting economic gains. It is a risky strategy, however a country that is
being pressured may not back down and instead may respond to the imposition of punitive
tariffs by raising trade barriers of its own.
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
83. (p. 214) In 2006, several countries of the European Union and U.S. banned imports of Mattel
toys with high levels of lead, manufactured in China. The underlying motive for such a move
could be:
A. protecting domestic businesses from unfair pricing.
B. protesting the pricing of toys below their costs of production.
C. protecting consumers from unsafe products.
D. increasing the trade surplus of the U.S.
Many governments have long had regulations to protect consumers from unsafe products. The
indirect effect of such regulations often is to limit or ban the importation of such products.
The EU and the U.S. banned toxic lead based toys from entering their markets to protect
domestic consumers from potential danger to their health.
84. (p. 215, 216) Which of the following would be a likely action motivated by the desire of
governments to protect their consumers from unsafe products?
A. Placing tariffs on imports of foreign steel, by the Bush administration in 2002
B. Threatening 100 percent tariffs on a range of Chinese products violating intellectual
property laws
C. Outlawing importation, sale, or use of genetically modified organisms by Austria and
Luxembourg
D. Passing legislations such as the D'Amato Act and the Helms-Burton Act targeting products
from Libya, Iran, and Cuba
Many governments have long had regulations to protect consumers from unsafe products. The
indirect effect of such regulations often is to limit or ban the importation of such products.
Concerns that the widespread use of genetically altered seeds could have unanticipated and
harmful effects on human health and may result in "genetic pollution" have led Austria and
Luxembourg to outlaw the importation, sale, or use of genetically altered organisms.
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
85. (p. 216) Which of the following actions reflect the use of trade policies by governments to
further their foreign policy objectives?
A. Pressuring "rogue states" that do not abide by international law or norms
B. Enforcing tougher intellectual property regulations
C. Threatening high tariffs and quotas
D. Limiting or banning imports of unsafe or substandard products
Governments sometimes use trade policy to support their foreign policy objectives. A
government may grant preferential trade terms to a country with which it wants to build
strong relations. Trade policy has also been used several times to pressure or punish "rogue
states" that do not abide by international law or norms.
86. (p. 216) U.S. trade sanctions against Cuba, Libya, and Iran are examples of:
A. governments protecting domestic consumers from unsafe products.
B. governments using trade policy to support their foreign policy objectives.
C. governments protecting local businesses from international competition.
D. governments punishing foreign companies for dumping products in their markets.
Trade policy has been used several times to pressure or punish "rogue states" that do not abide
by international law or norms. The theory is that such pressure might persuade the rogue state
to mend its ways, or it might hasten a change of government. The United States has
maintained long-running trade sanctions against Cuba. Their principal function is to
impoverish Cuba in the hope that the resulting economic hardship will lead to the downfall of
Cuba's Communist government and its replacement with a more democratically inclined (and
pro-U.S.) regime.
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
87. (p. 216) Legislation that allows Americans to sue foreign firms that use property in Cuba
confiscated from them after the 1959 revolution is known as the:
A. Frederick-Peterson Act.
B. D'Amato-Perkins Act.
C. Perkins-Dole Act.
D. Helms-Burton Act.
To further tighten the screws on Cuba, the U.S. Congress passed the Helms-Burton Act in
1996. This act allows Americans to sue foreign firms that use property in Cuba confiscated
from them after the 1959 revolution. Later in 1996, Congress passed a similar law, the
D'Amato Act, aimed at Libya and Iran.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-02
Topic: The Case for Government Intervention
88. (p. 216) Which one of the following Acts represents U.S. legislation that is similar to the
Helms-Burton Act, but is aimed at Libya and Iran?
A. Perkin's Act
B. D'Amato Act
C. Williams Act
D. Cato Act
In 1996 the U.S. Congress passed the Helms-Burton Act. This act allows Americans to sue
foreign firms that use property in Cuba confiscated from them after the 1959 revolution. Later
in 1996, Congress passed a similar law, the D'Amato Act, aimed at Libya and Iran.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-02
Topic: The Case for Government Intervention
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
89. (p. 216, 217) _____ status allows countries to export goods to the U.S. under favorable terms.
A. Most favored nation
B. Preferred trade partner
C. Strategic ally
D. Friendly state
MFN status allows countries to export goods to the United States under favorable terms. An
annual debate in the United States exists over whether to grant most favored nation (MFN)
status to China, which would lower the average tariff on Chinese goods imported into the
United States to 8 percent from about 40 percent without the MFN status.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-02
Topic: The Case for Government Intervention
90. (p. 217) China did not join the WTO until 2001, so historically the decision of whether to
grant MFN status to China was a real one. The decision was made more difficult by the
perception that China had a(n) _____.
A. unskilled and unemployable population
B. high-cost labor structure
C. poor human rights record
D. large population
MFN status allows countries to export goods to the United States under favorable terms.
Trading partners who are signatories of the World Trade Organization, as most are,
automatically receive MFN status. However, China did not join the WTO until 2001, so
historically the decision of whether to grant MFN status to China was a real one. The decision
was made more difficult by the perception that China had a poor human rights record.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02
Topic: The Case for Government Intervention
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
91. (p. 217) Environmental organizations pushing for greater regulation of international trade
argue that there is a strong relationship between _____ and environmental pollution and
degradation.
A. dumping
B. trade sanctions
C. income levels
D. factor endowments
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-02
Topic: The Case for Government Intervention
92. (p. 218) Empirical evidence suggests the relationship between income levels and pollution is
not a linear one—rather it is an inverted U-shaped relationship—implying that international
trade, and the growth that results from it, may not be damaging to the environment. Important
exceptions to this trend are:
A. pollution levels evidenced in burgeoning economies like China and India.
B. incidents like the Chernobyl disaster and Tokaimura nuclear accident.
C. results revealing rise in carbon dioxide emissions with rise in income levels.
D. frequent oil spills occurring in various seas across the world.
In developed nations such as the United States and United Kingdom, the air is much cleaner
than it was half a century ago. This data suggests that international trade, and the growth that
results from it, may not be damaging to the environment. However, carbon dioxide emissions
do rise with income levels. Thus, the country with the highest income per capita, the United
States, also produces the greatest carbon dioxide emissions per capita.
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
93. (p. 218) Which of the following is one of the reasons offered to explain the high levels of
carbon dioxide emissions in developed countries like the U.S.?
A. Richer societies are more energy intensive and use carbon dioxide rich hydrocarbons
extensively.
B. Developed countries tend to be more densely populated than other countries and hence
reflect higher carbon dioxide emissions.
C. Companies in developed countries are less likely to take up social responsibility initiatives
than those in developing countries.
D. Developed countries generally have environmental pollution regulations less stringent than
those in developing countries.
The country with the highest income per capita, the United States, also produces the greatest
carbon dioxide emissions per capita as carbon dioxide emissions are a by-product of energy
use (i.e., oil, gas, or coal burning). Richer societies are more energy intensive, and to the
extent that they use hydrocarbons to produce that energy, this leads to higher carbon dioxide
emissions.
94. (p. 218) If countries do not meet their targets for reducing carbon emissions specified in
international treaties, they may find themselves the targets of _____.
A. dumping
B. inflation
C. economic crisis
D. retaliatory action
Adherence to targets regarding carbon emissions might start to factor into trade agreements.
Specifically, if countries do not meet their targets for reducing carbon emissions specified in
international treaties, they may find themselves the targets of retaliatory action. The EU, for
example, might respond to the failure of the United States to meet its treaty commitments by
placing a carbon tariff on the import of certain goods from the United States.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-02
Topic: The Case for Government Intervention
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
95. (p. 219) According to the text, which of the following factors is likely to be the least
important in determining location decisions for businesses?
A. Labor productivity
B. Transportation costs
C. Pollution abatement costs
D. Access to technological know-how
Economists have studied the issue but have found little evidence that firms do move
production in response to changes in pollution regulations. Their findings suggest that
pollution abatement costs are a relatively small component of the cost structure of most
enterprises, and other factors, such as labor productivity, access to technological know-how,
and transportation costs are far more important in determining location decisions.
96. (p. 219) With the development of the _____ and _____, the economic arguments for
government intervention have undergone a renaissance in recent years.
A. technology; WTO
B. free trade; democratic governments
C. new trade theory; strategic trade policy
D. democratic governments; anti-globalization movement
With the development of the new trade theory and strategic trade policy, the economic
arguments for government intervention have undergone a renaissance in recent years. Until
the early 1980s, most economists saw little benefit in government intervention and strongly
advocated a free trade policy. This position has changed at the margins with the development
of strategic trade policy.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-02
Topic: The Case for Government Intervention
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
97. (p. 219) Which of the following is by far, the oldest economic argument for government
intervention into the free flow of trade?
A. Impoverished industry argument
B. Infant industry argument
C. Sick industry argument
D. National security-related industry argument
Proposed by Alexander Hamilton in 1792, the infant industry argument is by far the oldest
economic argument for government intervention. According to this argument, many
developing countries have a potential comparative advantage in manufacturing, but new
manufacturing industries cannot initially compete with established industries in developed
countries.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-02
Topic: The Case for Government Intervention
98. (p. 219) According to _____, many developing countries have a potential comparative
advantage in manufacturing, but new manufacturing industries cannot initially compete with
well-established industries in developed countries.
A. mercantilism
B. comparative advantage theory
C. product life-cycle theory
D. infant industry argument
According to the infant industry argument, many developing countries have a potential
comparative advantage in manufacturing, but new manufacturing industries cannot initially
compete with established industries in developed countries. To allow manufacturing to get a
toehold, the argument is that governments should temporarily support new industries (with
tariffs, import quotas, and subsidies) until they have grown strong enough to meet
international competition.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-02
Topic: The Case for Government Intervention
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
99. (p. 219) _____ has recognized the infant industry argument as a legitimate reason for
protectionism.
A. GATT
B. North Atlantic Treaty Organization
C. United Nations
D. International Monetary Fund
The infant industry argument has had substantial appeal for the governments of developing
nations during the past 50 years, and the GATT has recognized the infant industry argument
as a legitimate reason for protectionism.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-02
Topic: The Case for Government Intervention
100. (p. 219) One of the main reasons why many economists remain critical of the infant
industry argument is its assumption that:
A. protection of manufacturing from foreign competition is harmful.
B. absolute advantage cannot sustain productivity of an industry.
C. foreign firms too come under the definition of infant industry when they newly enter a
foreign market.
D. firms are unable to make efficient long-term investments through domestic or international
capital markets.
In spite of GATT recognizing the infant industry argument as a legitimate reason for
protectionism, many economists remain critical of this argument as it relies on the assumption
that firms are unable to make efficient long-term investments by borrowing money from the
domestic or international capital market.
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
101. (p. 219) Protection of manufacturing from foreign competition does no good unless the
protection:
A. helps make the industry efficient.
B. provides guaranteed employment for the citizens.
C. affects the standards of living and per capita income of the people.
D. promotes foreign direct investment.
Protection of manufacturing from foreign competition does no good unless the protection
helps make the industry efficient. In case after case, however, protection seems to have done
little more than foster the development of inefficient industries that have little hope of ever
competing in the world market.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02
Topic: The Case for Government Intervention
102. (p. 220) Given financial support, firms based in countries with a potential comparative
advantage have an incentive to endure the necessary initial losses in order to make long-run
gains without requiring _____.
A. good governance
B. latest technology
C. government protection
D. regular monitoring
Given financial support, firms based in countries with a potential comparative advantage have
an incentive to endure the necessary initial losses in order to make long-run gains without
requiring government protection. Many Taiwanese and South Korean firms did this in
industries such as textiles, semiconductors, machine tools, steel, and shipping.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-02
Topic: The Case for Government Intervention
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
103. (p. 220) According to the text, given efficient global capital markets, the only industries that
would require government protection would be:
A. those that are not worthwhile.
B. defense-related, such as aerospace and semiconductors.
C. chemical and processing industries.
D. those that require efficient administration.
Many textiles, semiconductors, steel, and other firms from Taiwan and South Korea have
demonstrated that, given financial support, they have an incentive to endure the necessary
initial losses in order to make long-run gains without requiring government protection. Thus,
given efficient global capital markets, the only industries that would require government
protection would be those that are not worthwhile.
104. (p. 220) A government should use subsidies to support promising firms that are active in
newly emerging industries, according to the _____ argument.
A. strategic trade policy
B. infant industry
C. absolute advantage
D. product life-cycle
It is argued that by appropriate actions, a government can help raise national income if it can
somehow ensure that the firm or firms that gain first-mover advantages in an industry are
domestic rather than foreign enterprises. Thus, according to the strategic trade policy
argument, a government should use subsidies to support promising firms that are active in
newly emerging industries.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-02
Topic: The Case for Government Intervention
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
105. (p. 220) According to the text, governments should target technologies that may be
important in the future and use _____ to support development work aimed at commercializing
those technologies.
A. subsidies
B. sanctions
C. factor endowments
D. personnel
Governments should target technologies that may be important in the future and use subsidies
to support development work aimed at commercializing those technologies. Furthermore,
government should provide export subsidies until the domestic firms have established first-
mover advantages in the world market.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-02
Topic: The Case for Government Intervention
106. (p. 220) An important component of strategic trade policy is that it might pay governments
to intervene in an industry if it helps domestic firms overcome the barriers to entry created by
foreign firms that have already reaped _____.
A. all available profits
B. first-mover advantages
C. comparative advantage
D. foreign direct investment
The strategic trade policy argument suggests that it might pay a government to intervene in an
industry by helping domestic firms overcome the barriers to entry created by foreign firms
that have already reaped first-mover advantages. This argument underlies government support
of Airbus, which benefited from a $15 billion subsidy from the governments of Britain, Spain,
Germany, and France to become Boeing's major competitor.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02
Topic: The Case for Government Intervention
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
107. (p. 220) To try and establish Airbus as a global competitor against Boeing, the governments
of Britain, France, Germany, and Spain:
A. threatened 100% tariffs on the import of Boeing aircraft.
B. drafted legislations that required 25% of Boeing's aircraft by value to be manufactured in
Europe.
C. imposed import quotas on American-manufactured Boeing aircraft.
D. pooled in subsidies worth $15 billion.
Formed in 1966 as a consortium of four companies from Great Britain, France, Germany, and
Spain, Airbus had less than 5 percent of the world commercial aircraft market when it began
production in the mid-1970s. By 2009, it had increased its share to 45 percent by virtue of a
$15 billion subsidy from the governments of Great Britain, France, Germany, and Spain,
threatening Boeing's long-term dominance of the market.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Understand
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02
Topic: The Case for Government Intervention
108. (p. 221) The strategic trade policy arguments of the new trade theorists challenge the
rationale for unrestricted free trade found in the work of classic trade theorists. In response to
this challenge to economic orthodoxy, a number of economists—including some of those
responsible for the development of the new trade theory, such as Paul Krugman are:
A. advocating a world-wide swing toward mixed economies.
B. debunking assertions made by Adam Smith and David Ricardo.
C. making a revised case for free trade.
D. pointing out that in practice free trade may be unworkable.
The strategic trade policy arguments of the new trade theorists suggest an economic
justification for government intervention in international trade, thus challenging the rationale
for unrestricted free trade found in the work of classic trade theorists such as Adam Smith and
David Ricardo. In response to this challenge to economic orthodoxy, a number of
economists—including some of those responsible for the development of the new trade
theory, such as Paul Krugman—point out that although strategic trade policy looks appealing
in theory, in practice it may be unworkable. This response to the strategic trade policy
argument constitutes the revised case for free trade.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 06-03
Topic: The Revised Case for Free Trade
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
109. (p. 221) According to Paul Krugman, a country that attempts to use strategic trade policy to
establish a domestic firm in a dominant position in a global industry will probably:
A. dominate the industry.
B. move away from protectionism.
C. provoke retaliation.
D. incur huge financial debts.
Paul Krugman argues that a strategic trade policy aimed at establishing domestic firms in a
dominant position in a global industry is a beggar-thy-neighbor policy that boosts national
income at the expense of other countries. A country that attempts to use such policies will
probably provoke retaliation.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Understand
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 06-03
Topic: The Revised Case for Free Trade
110. (p. 221) According to Krugman, the ideal way for a country to respond when one's
competitors are already being supported by government subsidies is probably not to engage in
retaliatory action but to:
A. help establish rules that minimize the use of trade-distorting subsidies.
B. adopt the strategic trade policy as a way to establish domestic firms in a dominant position
in the global industry.
C. move to an industry where the competitors have not had the benefit of such strategic trade
policies.
D. use a combination of home-market protection and export-promoting subsidies.
Krugman may be right about the danger of a strategic trade policy leading to a trade war. The
problem, however, is how to respond when one's competitors are already being supported by
government subsidies. According to Krugman, the answer is probably not to engage in
retaliatory action but to help establish rules of the game that minimize the use of trade-
distorting subsidies.
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
111. (p. 221) According to Krugman, one of the reasons for not embracing strategic trade policy
is that such a policy might:
A. hamper the chances of a country's firms to effectively exploit first-mover advantages.
B. be captured by special-interest groups within the economy for personal benefits.
C. be used to establish rules of the game that minimize use of trade-distorting subsidies.
D. divert attention from the need to establish domestic firms in a dominant position in the
global industry.
Governments do not always act in the national interest when they intervene in the economy;
politically important interest groups often influence them. Thus, a further reason for not
embracing strategic trade policy, according to Krugman, is that such a policy is almost certain
to be captured by special-interest groups within the economy, who will distort it to their own
ends.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 06-03
Topic: The Revised Case for Free Trade
112. (p. 222) Which of the following historical events signified the first official embracing of
free trade as a government policy by Great Britain?
A. The Union of the Crowns in 1603
B. The repeal of the Corn Laws by the British Parliament in 1846
C. The Treaty of American Independence in 1783
D. The Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries
Free trade dates to the late eighteenth century and the work of Adam Smith and David
Ricardo. Free trade as a government policy was first officially embraced by Great Britain in
1846, when the British Parliament repealed the Corn Laws.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 06-04
Topic: Development of the World Trading System
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
113. (p. 222) Which of the following represents the reason for the British Parliament repealing
the Corn Laws in 1846?
A. Opium wars that polarized world opinion against Great Britain
B. Prospect of harvest failure in Britain and famine in Ireland
C. Imminent threat of rebellions in most of its colonies
D. Labor party taking over the government from the Liberal Conservatives
In Great Britain, agricultural protection was withdrawn, in the form of repealing of the Corn
Laws, only as a result of a protracted debate when the effects of a harvest failure in Great
Britain were compounded by the imminent threat of famine in Ireland. Faced with
considerable hardship and suffering among the populace, Parliament narrowly reversed its
long-held position.
114. (p. 222) According to the text, the only reason Great Britain pushed the case for trade
liberalization for as long as 80 years in the 19th century was that:
A. it was starting to lose the military stranglehold over much of its colonies.
B. the emergence of the U.S. threatened its position as the most industrialized nation.
C. it stood to lose the most from a trade war.
D. it had experienced severe famines and droughts in the earlier part of the 19th century.
After officially embracing free trade as a government policy in 1846, Great Britain, as one of
the world's dominant trading powers, pushed the case for trade liberalization. Its major trading
partners did not reciprocate the British policy of unilateral free trade. The only reason Britain
kept this policy for so long was that as the world's largest exporting nation, it had far more to
lose from a trade war than did any other country.
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115. (p. 222) The economically damaging effects of the Great Depression were worsened in
1929 by the _____.
A. First World War
B. U.S. stock market collapse
C. spread of communism through Europe
D. Cold War between the world's superpowers
The Great Depression had roots in the failure of the world economy to mount a sustained
economic recovery after the end of World War I in 1918. Things got worse in 1929 with the
U.S. stock market collapse and the subsequent run on the U.S. banking system.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 06-04
Topic: Development of the World Trading System
116. (p. 223) Which one of the following aimed at avoiding rising unemployment by protecting
domestic industry and diverting consumer demand away from foreign products, erected an
enormous wall of tariff barriers?
A. Smoot-Hawley Act
B. D'Amato Act
C. Helms-Burton Act
D. Buy America Act
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-04
Topic: Development of the World Trading System
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
117. (p. 223) A particularly odd aspect of the Smoot-Hawley tariff-raising binge was that the
United States was running a balance-of-payment surplus at the time and it was the world's
largest _____ nation.
A. debtor
B. free-trade
C. importing
D. creditor
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-04
Topic: Development of the World Trading System
118. (p. 223) Established under U.S. leadership in 1947, which of the following was a
multilateral agreement whose objective was to liberalize trade by eliminating tariffs,
subsidies, import quotas, and the like?
A. General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
B. North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
C. Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)
D. Free Trade Areas of the Americas (FTAA)
Under U.S. leadership, the GATT was established in 1947. The GATT was a multilateral
agreement whose objective was to liberalize trade by eliminating tariffs, subsidies, import
quotas, and the like.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-04
Topic: Development of the World Trading System
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
119. (p. 223) Which of the following statements regarding GATT is true?
A. GATT attempted to liberalize trade restrictions in one go.
B. In its early years, GATT was unsuccessful and hence was superseded by the WTO.
C. GATT regulations failed as they were enforced by an unshared monitoring mechanism.
D. Tariff reductions through negotiations were spread over eight rounds.
The GATT did not attempt to liberalize trade restrictions in one fell swoop. Rather, tariff
reduction was spread over eight rounds. GATT regulations were enforced by a mutual
monitoring mechanism. The Uruguay Round of GATT negotiations in 1993 provided for the
World Trade Organization to be created to implement the GATT agreement.
120. (p. 224) One of the reasons that protectionist pressures arose around the world during the
1980s was:
A. that many countries found ways to get around GATT regulations.
B. the opening up of national markets to cheap products from China.
C. the fall of the Soviet Union.
D. the persistent trade lead taken by the United States.
During the 1980s and early 1990s, the world trading system erected by the GATT came under
strain as pressures for greater protectionism increased around the world. One of the reasons
for this was that many countries found ways to get around GATT regulations. Bilateral
voluntary export restraints, or VERs, circumvent GATT agreements, because neither the
importing country nor the exporting country complain to the GATT bureaucracy in Geneva—
and without a complaint, the GATT bureaucracy can do nothing.
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
121. (p. 224) _____ is one of the ways in which countries can circumvent GATT regulations and
is exemplified by the agreement between Japan and America under which Japanese producers
promised to limit their auto imports into the United States.
A. Voluntary export restraint
B. Import quota
C. Specific tariff
D. Quota rent
Bilateral voluntary export restraints, or VERs, circumvent GATT agreements, because neither
the importing country nor the exporting country complains to the GATT bureaucracy in
Geneva. One of the best-known examples of voluntary export restraint is the agreement
between Japan and the United States, under which Japanese producers promised to limit their
auto imports into the United States as a way of defusing growing trade tensions.
122. (p. 224) Bilateral voluntary export restraints, or VERs, circumvented GATT agreements,
because:
A. these nations withdrew their membership to the GATT.
B. the member nations had ceased to recognize GATT as a regulatory body for international
trade.
C. VERs were not a recognized trade barrier under the GATT constitution.
D. neither the importing country nor the exporting country complained to the GATT
bureaucracy.
Bilateral voluntary export restraints, or VERs, circumvent GATT agreements, because neither
the importing country nor the exporting country complains to the GATT bureaucracy in
Geneva—and without a complaint, the GATT bureaucracy can do nothing.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-04
Topic: Development of the World Trading System
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
123. (p. 224) The main effect of the Uruguay Round Agreement on agricultural products was
that:
A. caps were imposed on textile exports.
B. farm subsidies were reduced.
C. tariffs on industrial goods were increased.
D. a wide range of agricultural services were exempted from GATT rules.
The Uruguay Round contained provisions for reduction in agricultural subsidies, tariffs on
industrial goods, manufactured goods, and lowering barriers to textile exports, among others.
124. (p. 224) All of the following were provisions of the Uruguay Round Agreement EXCEPT:
A. clearer and stronger GATT rules.
B. extension of GATT fair trade and market access rules to cover a wider range of services.
C. substantial reduction in agricultural subsidies.
D. increase in tariffs on industrial goods in lieu of the reduction in agricultural subsidies.
The Uruguay Round contained provisions for reduction in agricultural subsidies, tariffs on
industrial goods, manufactured goods, and lowering barriers to textile exports, among others.
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
125. (p. 225) Which of the following has taken over responsibility to arbitrate trade disputes and
monitor the trade policies of member countries and resulted because of the Uruguay Round
agreement?
A. World Bank
B. World Trade Organization
C. International Trade Commission
D. International Monetary Fund
Established in 1993 under the provisions of the Uruguay Round, the WTO acts as an umbrella
organization that encompasses the GATT and has taken over responsibility for arbitrating
trade disputes and monitoring the trade policies of member countries.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-04
Topic: Development of the World Trading System
126. (p. 225) The WTO's Agreement on _____ is an attempt to narrow the gaps in the way
intellectual property rights are protected around the world and to bring them under common
international rules.
A. International Body on Intellectual Property (IBIP)
B. Court of Arbitration of Intellectual Property (CAIP)
C. Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)
D. Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement and Resolution (IPER)
The WTO acts as an umbrella organization that encompasses the GATT along with two new
sister bodies, one on services and the other on intellectual property. The WTO's Agreement on
Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) is an attempt to narrow the
gaps in the way intellectual property rights are protected around the world and to bring them
under common international rules.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-04
Topic: Development of the World Trading System
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
127. (p. 225) Countries that have been found by the arbitration panel to violate GATT rules may
appeal to _____ of the World Trade Organization, but its verdict is binding.
A. human rights commission
B. permanent appellate body
C. International Court of Justice
D. Security Council
Arbitration panel reports on trade disputes between member countries are automatically
adopted by the WTO unless there is a consensus to reject them. Countries that have been
found by the arbitration panel to violate GATT rules may appeal to a permanent appellate
body, but its verdict is binding.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 06-04
Topic: Development of the World Trading System
128. (p. 226) The millennium round of talks of WTO attempted to get the assembled countries to
agree to work toward:
A. agreeing on raising barriers to cross-border trade.
B. strengthening their defense ties and carry on with their war against terror.
C. reducing barriers to cross-border trade in agricultural products and trade and investment in
services.
D. increasing average tariff rates imposed by developing nations on manufactured goods to
more than four percent of value, the highest level in modern history.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 06-04
Topic: Development of the World Trading System
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
129. (p. 226) Two of the first industries targeted for reform by the WTO with a view to
encompass regulations governing foreign direct investment were:
A. global telecommunication and financial services industries.
B. scientific research and defense sector.
C. pharmaceuticals and heavy metal industry.
D. agriculture and biotechnology.
The WTO was encouraged to extend its reach to encompass regulations governing foreign
direct investment, something the GATT had never done. Two of the first industries targeted
for reform were the global telecommunication and financial services industries.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-04
Topic: Development of the World Trading System
130. (p. 226) Which of the following countries, with minor exceptions, is fully open to inward
investment by foreign banks, insurance, and security companies?
A. Russia
B. Cuba
C. Venezuela
D. The United States
The United States and the European Union, with minor exceptions, are fully open to inward
investment by foreign banks, insurance, and securities companies.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-04
Topic: Development of the World Trading System
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
131. (p. 227) Human rights activists see WTO rules as _____ the ability of nations to stop
imports from countries where child labor is used or working conditions are hazardous.
A. enabling
B. outlawing
C. supplementing
D. facilitating
For various reasons, several groups oppose free trade. All these organizations argued that the
WTO is an undemocratic institution that was usurping the national sovereignty of member
states and making decisions of great importance behind closed doors. Human rights activists
see WTO rules as outlawing the ability of nations to stop imports from countries where child
labor is used or working conditions are hazardous.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-04
Topic: Development of the World Trading System
132. (p. 228) One of the loopholes in antidumping laws that is being exploited by many countries
to pursue protectionism is the:
A. toothlessness of the enforcement agencies.
B. WTO's non-committal approach to antidumping laws.
C. bilateral VERs which subvert antidumping laws.
D. rather vague definition of what constitutes "dumping."
WTO rules allow countries to impose antidumping duties on foreign goods that are being sold
cheaper than at home, or below their cost of production, when domestic producers can show
that they are being harmed. Unfortunately, the rather vague definition of what constitutes
"dumping" has proved to be a loophole that many countries are exploiting to pursue
protectionism.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 06-04
Topic: Development of the World Trading System
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
133. (p. 230) Which of the following is NOT true about agricultural subsidies?
A. They clear distortions in the production and international trade of agricultural products.
B. They encourage countries to overproduce heavily subsidized agricultural products.
C. They reduce international trade in agricultural products.
D. They raise the prices of agricultural products to consumers.
The net effect of agricultural subsidies is to raise prices to consumers, reduce the volume of
agricultural trade, and encourage the overproduction of products that are heavily subsidized
(with the government typically buying the surplus).
134. (p. 231) _____ are the highest rate that can be charged, which is often, but not always, the
rate that is charged.
A. Ceiling rates
B. Specific tariffs
C. Bound tariff rates
D. Ad maximum rates
Bound tariff rates are the highest rate that can be charged, which is often, but not always, the
rate that is charged. While average tariffs on non-agricultural goods are low, high tariff rates
persist on certain imports into developed nations, which limit market access and economic
growth.
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
135. (p. 233) Which of the following has been excluded from the agenda for the Doha round of
WTO talks that began in 2001?
A. Reducing barriers to cross-border investment
B. Phasing out subsidies to agricultural producers
C. Limiting the use of antidumping laws
D. Attempts to tie trade to labor standards in a country
The agenda for the Doha round of WTO talks that began in late 2001includes cutting tariffs
on industrial goods and services, phasing out subsidies to agricultural producers, reducing
barriers to cross-border investment, and limiting the use of antidumping laws. Excluded from
the agenda is any language pertaining to attempts to tie trade to labor standards in a country.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 06-04
Topic: Development of the World Trading System
136. (p. 235) The threat of antidumping action limits the ability of a firm to:
A. raise capital in the primary market.
B. raise prices in response to high demand.
C. disperse its productive activities in an efficient manner.
D. use aggressive pricing to gain market share in a country.
The threat of antidumping action limits the ability of a firm to use aggressive pricing to gain
market share in a country. Firms in a country also can make strategic use of antidumping
measures to limit aggressive competition from low-cost foreign producers.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-05
Topic: Focus on Managerial Implications
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
137. (p. 236) According to the text, most economists would probably argue that the best interests
of international business are served by a free trade stance, but not a _____ stance.
A. facilitating
B. open market
C. laissez-faire
D. ad valorem
Most economists would probably argue that the best interests of international business are
served by a free trade stance, but not a laissez-faire stance. Business probably has much more
to gain from government efforts to open protected markets to imports and foreign direct
investment than from government efforts to support certain domestic industries in a manner
consistent with the recommendations of strategic trade policy.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-05
Topic: Focus on Managerial Implications
Essay Questions
138. (p. 206) What is a tariff? Describe the difference between specific tariffs and ad valorem
tariffs, illustrating each with an example.
A tariff is a tax levied on imports. Specific tariffs are levied as a fixed charge for each unit of
a good imported, for example, $500 for each automobile. Ad valorem tariffs are levied as a
proportion of the value of the imported good. An example of an ad valorem tariff is the 25
percent tariff that the U.S. government placed on imported light trucks including pickup
trucks, four-wheel-drive vehicles, and minivans in the late 1980s.
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
139. (p. 206) Who gains and who loses from the imposition of a tariff on imported goods? How
can it be determined whether the net gain from the tariff exceeds the net loss?
From the imposition of a tarrif on imported goods government gains, because the tariff
increases government revenues. Domestic producers also gain, because the tariff gives them
some protection against foreign competitors by increasing the cost of imported foreign goods.
Consumers lose because they must pay more for certain imports. Whether the gains to the
government and domestic producers exceeds the loss to consumers depends on various factors
such as the amount of the tariff, the importance of the imported good to domestic consumers,
the number of jobs saved in the protected industry, and so on.
140. (p. 207) What is a subsidy? Provide some examples of the forms that subsidies take. How
do subsidies help domestic producers?
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01
Topic: Instruments of Trade Policy
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
141. (p. 209) What is a voluntary export restraint? Why do exporting countries agree to VERs?
Explain with an example.
A voluntary export restraint is a "voluntary" quota on trade imposed by the exporting country,
typically at the request of the importing country's government. Foreign producers agree to
VERs because they fear more damaging punitive tariffs or import quotas might follow if they
do not. Agreeing to a VER is seen as a way to make the best of a bad situation by appeasing
protectionist pressures in a country. One of the most famous examples is the limitation on
auto exports to the United States enforced by the Japanese automobile producers in 1981. In
response to direct pressure from the U.S. government, this voluntary export restraint limited
Japanese automobile imports to no more than 1.68 million vehicles per year.
142. (p. 210) What is local content requirement? How can local content requirements typically
be expressed? How have local content requirements been used as trade barriers?
Local content requirement calls for a specific fraction of a good (produced by a multinational
firm in a foreign country) to be produced locally. These requirements can be expressed in
physical terms (e.g., 75 percent of component parts must be produced locally) or in value
terms (e.g., 75 percent of the value of this product must be produced locally). Local content
regulations have been widely used by developing countries to shift their manufacturing base
from the simple assembly of products whose parts are manufactured elsewhere into the local
manufacture of component parts. They have also been used in developed countries to try to
protect local jobs and industry from foreign competition.
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
143. (p. 213-217) What are the principle political arguments for government intervention into
international trade?
Political arguments for government intervention into international trade cover a range of
issues, including protecting jobs, protecting industries deemed important for national security,
and retaliating against unfair foreign competition. Protecting jobs and industries from unfair
competition is the most common political argument for government intervention. For
example, the Japanese quotas on rice imports are aimed at protecting jobs in that country's
agricultural sector. In terms of protecting industries deemed important for national security,
countries sometimes argue that it is necessary to protect certain industries (like aerospace,
steel, advanced electronics, etc.) because they are important for national security. Finally,
with regard to retaliating against foreign competition, some people argue that governments
should use the threat to intervene in trade policy as a bargaining tool to help open foreign
markets and force trading partners to "play by the rules of the game." In addition to these,
political arguments for government intervention might also be motivated by the desire of
governments to protect consumers from unsafe products, further its foreign policy objectives,
protect human rights in trade partner nations, and protect the environment from pollution and
degradation arising from growth of international trade.
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
144. (p. 216) Describe briefly, with examples, the use of trade policies by governments to
support their foreign policy objectives.
Governments sometimes use trade policy to support their foreign policy objectives. A
government may grant preferential trade terms to a country with which it wants to build
strong relations. Trade policy has also been used several times to pressure or punish "rogue
states" that do not abide by international law or norms. Iraq labored under extensive trade
sanctions after the UN coalition defeated the country in the 1991 Gulf War until the 2003
invasion of Iraq by U.S.-led forces. The theory is that such pressure might persuade the rogue
state to mend its ways, or it might hasten a change of government. In the case of Iraq, the
sanctions were seen as a way of forcing that country to comply with several UN resolutions.
The United States has maintained long-running trade sanctions against Cuba. Their principal
function is to impoverish Cuba in the hope that the resulting economic hardship will lead to
the downfall of Cuba's Communist government and its replacement with a more
democratically inclined (and pro-U.S.) regime. The United States also has had trade sanctions
in place against Libya and Iran, both of which it accuses of supporting terrorist action against
U.S. interests and building weapons of mass destruction.
In addition to such trade sanctions, the U.S. has passed laws such as the Helms-Burton Act,
which allows Americans to sue foreign firms that use property in Cuba confiscated from them
after the 1959 revolution, and the D'Amato Act (similar to Helms-Burton Act but aimed at
Iran and Libya).
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02
Topic: The Case for Government Intervention
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145. (p. 219, 220) What is the "infant industry argument"? What are its implications for the world
economy? What are the criticisms of this argument?
The infant industry argument is by far the oldest economic argument for government
intervention. According to this argument, many developing countries have a potential
comparative advantage in manufacturing, but new manufacturing industries cannot initially
compete with established industries in developed countries. To allow manufacturing to get a
toehold, the argument is that governments should temporarily support new industries (with
tariffs, import quotas, and subsidies) until they have grown strong enough to meet
international competition.
This argument has had substantial appeal for the governments of developing nations during
the past 50 years, and the GATT has recognized the infant industry argument as a legitimate
reason for protectionism. Nevertheless, many economists remain critical of this argument for
two main reasons. First, protection of manufacturing from foreign competition does no good
unless the protection helps make the industry efficient. In case after case, however, protection
seems to have done little more than foster the development of inefficient industries that have
little hope of ever competing in the world market. Second, the infant industry argument relies
on an assumption that firms are unable to make efficient long-term investments by borrowing
money from the domestic or international capital market. Consequently, governments have
been required to subsidize long-term investments. Given the development of global capital
markets over the past 20 years, this assumption no longer looks as valid as it once did.
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146. (p. 220) Briefly describe the implications of the strategic trade policy as applied to
international trade.
The strategic trade policy argument has two components. First, it is argued that by appropriate
actions, a government can help raise national income if it can somehow ensure that the firm or
firms that gain first-mover advantages in an industry are domestic rather than foreign
enterprises. Thus, according to the strategic trade policy argument, a government should use
subsidies to support promising firms that are active in newly emerging industries. Advocates
of this argument point out that the substantial R & D grants that the U.S. government gave
Boeing in the 1950s and 1960s probably helped tilt the field of competition in the newly
emerging market for passenger jets in Boeing's favor. Similar arguments have been made with
regard to Japan's dominance in the production of liquid crystal display screens. Although
these screens were invented in the United States, the Japanese government, in cooperation
with major electronics companies, targeted this industry for research support in the late 1970s
and early 1980s. The result was that Japanese firms, not U.S. firms, subsequently captured
first-mover advantages in this market. The second component of the strategic trade policy
argument is that it might pay a government to intervene in an industry by helping domestic
firms overcome the barriers to entry created by foreign firms that have already reaped first-
mover advantages. This argument underlies government support of Airbus, Boeing's major
competitor. Formed in 1966 as a consortium of four companies from Great Britain, France,
Germany, and Spain, Airbus had less than 5 percent of the world commercial aircraft market
when it began production in the mid-1970s. By 2009, it had increased its share to 45 percent
by virtue of a $15 billion subsidy from the governments of Great Britain, France, Germany,
and Spain. Without this subsidy, Airbus would never have been able to break into the world
market, threatening Boeing's long-term dominance of the market.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Understand
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02
Topic: The Case for Government Intervention
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
147. (p. 223) Give a brief description of the origin, functions, and successes of GATT from 1947
to 1979, before protectionist trends gained momentum across the world.
Under U.S. leadership, the GATT was established in 1947. The GATT was a multilateral
agreement whose objective was to liberalize trade by eliminating tariffs, subsidies, import
quotas, and the like. The GATT did not attempt to liberalize trade restrictions in one fell
swoop. Rather, tariff reduction was spread over eight rounds. The last, the Uruguay Round,
was launched in 1986 and completed in December 1993. In these rounds, mutual tariff
reductions were negotiated among all members, who then committed themselves not to raise
import tariffs above negotiated rates. GATT regulations were enforced by a mutual
monitoring mechanism. If a country believed that one of its trading partners was violating a
GATT regulation, it could ask the Geneva-based GATT bureaucracy to investigate. If the
complaints were found to be valid, member countries could be asked to pressure the offending
party to change its policies. In general, such pressure was sufficient to get an offending
country to change its policies. If it were not, the offending country could be expelled from the
GATT.
In its early years, the GATT was by most measures very successful. For example, the average
tariff declined by nearly 92 percent in the United States between the Geneva Round of 1947
and the Tokyo Round of 1973-79. Consistent with the theoretical arguments first advanced by
Ricardo, the move toward free trade under the GATT appeared to stimulate economic growth.
From 1953 to 1973, world trade and world income grew at healthy annual rates.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 06-04
Topic: Development of the World Trading System
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
148. (p. 223, 224) Describe how the world trade system erected by GATT came under strain from
protectionist trends that dominated the world economy from 1980 to 1993.
During the 1980s and early 1990s, the world trading system erected by the GATT came under
strain as pressures for greater protectionism increased around the world. Three reasons caused
the rise in such pressures during the 1980s.
First, the economic success of Japan strained the world trading system. Japan was in ruins
when the GATT was created. By the early 1980s, however, it had become the world's second
largest economy and its largest exporter. Japan's success in such industries as automobiles and
semiconductors might have been enough to strain the world trading system. Things were
made worse by the widespread perception in the West that despite low tariff rates and
subsidies, Japanese markets were closed to imports and foreign investment by administrative
trade barriers.
Second, the world trading system was strained by the persistent trade deficit in the world's
largest economy, the United States, particularly with Japan. The consequences of the U.S.
deficit included painful adjustments in industries such as automobiles, machine tools,
semiconductors, steel, and textiles, where domestic producers steadily lost market share to
foreign competitors. The resulting unemployment gave rise to renewed demands in the U.S.
Congress for protection against imports.
A third reason for the trend toward greater protectionism was that many countries found ways
to get around GATT regulations. Bilateral voluntary export restraints, or VERs, circumvent
GATT agreements, because neither the importing country nor the exporting country complain
to the GATT bureaucracy in Geneva—and without a complaint, the GATT bureaucracy can
do nothing. Exporting countries agree to VERs to avoid more damaging punitive tariffs. One
of the best-known examples is the automobile VER between Japan and the United States,
under which Japanese producers promised to limit their auto imports into the United States as
a way of defusing growing trade tensions.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 06-04
Topic: Development of the World Trading System
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
149. (p. 224) State the provisions that were formed after the completion of the Uruguay Round
of talks.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-04
Topic: Development of the World Trading System
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Chapter 06 - The Political Economy of International Trade
150. (p. 225) Explain the organizational structure of the WTO and mention the functions of its
key organs.
The WTO acts as an umbrella organization that encompasses the GATT along with two new
sister bodies, one on services and the other on intellectual property. The WTO's General
Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) has taken the lead to extending free trade
agreements to services. The WTO's Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual
Property Rights (TRIPS) is an attempt to narrow the gaps in the way intellectual property
rights are protected around the world and to bring them under common international rules.
WTO has taken over responsibility for arbitrating trade disputes and monitoring the trade
policies of member countries. While the WTO operates on the basis of consensus as the
GATT did, in the area of dispute settlement, member countries are no longer able to block
adoption of arbitration reports. Arbitration panel reports on trade disputes between member
countries are automatically adopted by the WTO unless there is a consensus to reject them.
Countries that have been found by the arbitration panel to violate GATT rules may appeal to a
permanent appellate body, but its verdict is binding. If offenders fail to comply with the
recommendations of the arbitration panel, trading partners have the right to compensation or,
in the last resort, to impose (commensurate) trade sanctions. Every stage of the procedure is
subject to strict time limits.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 06-04
Topic: Development of the World Trading System
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Test Bank for Global Business Today, 7th Edition: Charles W. L. Hill
151. (p. 228) Why is the WTO meeting in Seattle considered a watershed?
The WTO meeting in Seattle is notable because, in the past, previous trade talks were pursued
in relative obscurity with only interested economists, politicians, and businesspeople paying
much attention. Seattle demonstrated that the issues surrounding the global trend toward free
trade have moved to center stage in the popular consciousness, and they have remained there
since. The debate on the merits of free trade and globalization has become mainstream.
Whether further liberalization occurs, therefore, may depend on the importance that popular
opinion in countries such as the United States attaches to issues such as human rights and
labor standards, job security, environmental policies, and national sovereignty. It will also
depend on the ability of advocates of free trade to articulate in a clear and compelling manner
the argument that, in the long run, free trade is the best way of promoting adequate labor
standards, of providing more jobs, and of protecting the environment.
152. (p. 228) List the fours issues at the forefront of the current agenda of the WTO.
Four issues at the forefront of the current agenda of the WTO are:
(1) Increase in antidumping policies.
(2) High level of protectionism in agriculture.
(3) Lack of strong protection for intellectual property rights in many nations.
(4) Continued high tariff rates on nonagricultural goods and services in many nations.
AACSB: Analytic
Bloom's: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 06-04
Topic: Development of the World Trading System
6-108
“Who saves his country, saves all things, and all things saved will bless
him. Who lets his country die, lets all things die, and all things dying curse
him.”