Trade effects of Chinese standards: Empirical research based on standard category in 33 ICS sectors

Using panel data concerning standards stock and trade volume of China during 1990-2010, the paper empirically investigates impact of standards on China's foreign trade development in 33 ICS classified sectors. Results show that increasing stock for national standards and international standards positively promote China's foreign trade while international standards have a bigger effect. Product standards, basis standards, method standards, management standards, safety standards, health care standards as well as environmental protection standards also promote China's trade volume growth. Besides, imbalances exist in China's standardization system: sectors with large standards stock have relatively low share of international standards; share of technical standards is much higher than the share of management standards; share of product standards, basis standards and method standards is much higher than the share of safety standards, health care standards and environmental protection standards.