The Macroeconomic Consequences of Import Tariffs and Trade Policy Uncertainty

Discussion Papers 2072, 72 S.

Lukas Boer, Malte Rieth

2024

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Abstract

We estimate the macroeconomic effects of import tariffs and trade policy uncertainty in the United States, combining theory-consistent and narrative sign restrictions on Bayesian SVARs. We find mostly adverse consequences of protectionism. Tariff shocks are more important than trade policy uncertainty shocks. Tariff shocks depress trade, investment, and output persistently, in aggregate and across sectors and space. The general equilibrium import elasticity is –0.8. Historically, NAFTA/WTO raised output by 1-3% for twenty years. Undoing the 2018/19 measures would raise output by cumulatively 4%. The findings imply higher output costs of protectionism than partial equilibrium or static trade models.

Malte Rieth

Research Associate in the Macroeconomics Department



JEL-Classification: C32;E30;F13;F14
Keywords: Trade policy, international trade, structural vector autoregressions, narrative identification, general equilibrium, United States
Frei zugängliche Version: (econstor)
http://hdl.handle.net/10419/283240

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