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.