Long-Run Impacts of Trade Shocks and Export Competitiveness: Evidence from the U.S. BSE Event

Chen-Ti Chen, John M. Crespi, William Hahn, Lee L. Schulz, Fawzi Taha
September 2019  [19-WP 594]

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Suggested citation:

Chen, C.T., J.M. Crespi, W. Hahn, L.L. Schulz, and F. Taha. 2019. "Long-Run Impacts of Trade Shocks and Export Competitiveness: Evidence from the U.S. BSE Event." Working paper 19-WP 594. Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, Iowa State University.

Abstract

Abstract: This paper examines how comparative advantages of major beef exporters changed following the 2003 bovine spongiform encephalopathy outbreak (BSE), which significantly disrupted the U.S. beef trade until approximately April 2007. Using longitudinal data on beef export values and constructed revealed comparative advantage measures, we show that while some measure of the long-run impacts of BSE on U.S. beef export competitiveness have returned to pre-2003 levels, the U.S.’s comparative advantage has not. We also examine a hypothetical scenario of no BSE event in 2003 and predict what exporters’ competitiveness would have looked like. The authors discuss the implications for recent trade disruptions.