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When people are given the economic freedom to choose to whom
they can sell and buy, they become more efficient and more dynamic producers.
This is because they have more choices from among many suppliers and producers
from more countries, so they can get their necessary production inputs, from
food and consumer items to raw materials to capital goods and machineries, that
are cost-efficient and are of better quality to them.
On the contrary, when people have small or no economic
freedom where to sell and buy their goods and services, they become less
efficient. Less choices, less elbow room to adjust their production and
marketing processes, and less consumers too.
That is why free trade – freedom to trade by the people,
producers and consumers, sellers and buyers
alike – is always superior to trade protectionism and economic
nationalism.
Below are two tables that can help illustrate these
points. Hong Kong and Singapore, small economies with just seven million and
five million people respectively, are able to export more than $400 billion of
merchandise goods in 2011. In contrast, Afghanistan and Nepal with population
of 30 million or more people, could not export even $1 billion that year.
Bangladesh is included in this list because it is next to
India as Nepal’s neighboring trade partner. Malaysia and Afghanistan are also included
because they have similar or comparable population size as Nepal.
Table 1. Total
Merchandise Exports, Selected Countries, 2009-2012, in $ Billion
There are geographical factors why Nepal and Afghanistan
cannot export big, like their being land-locked countries, whereas Hong Kong,
Singapore and Malaysia are generally coastal cities and countries and hence,
shipment of goods and services is a lot easier.
But more than geography, it is economic and trade policy
that is a bigger factor or explanation why some economies are more dynamic and
more prosperous than others.
Below is a summary table of trade policy of six Asian
countries. Nepal on the left and Singapore and Hong Kong on the right, make big
contrasts in terms of trade policy.
Table 2. Trade
Policy of Selected Asian Countries, all units in Percent
Nepal has an almost autarkic, no free trade policy especially for
agricultural goods, even if it has been acceded to the World Trade Organization
(WTO) since 2004. Its Most Favored Nation (MFN) duty-free imports was zero,
meaning all imported goods are slapped with an import tax, whether at big or
small rate. This definitely has adverse effect on local consumers and
producers, they cannot get cheaper imported raw materials and machineries
abroad. One result is that Nepal’s export is too small, just 0.01 percent of
total world exports.
Bangladesh and India have similar degree of protectionism
but not as strict or protectionist as Nepal’s policy. More than 21 percent of
their agricultural imports are granted MFN duty-free status. Their levels of
average import duties are also similar to that of Nepal.
In contrast, unilateral free trade economies Singapore
and Hong Kong give MFN duty-free status to all of their trading
partner-countries. All imports are allowed at zero tariff. The only goods that
are regulated are those that can harm public health, like adulterated or
poisoned food and drinks, counterfeit or substandard medicines, poisonous substances,
guns and bombs, infected live animals, and so on. These two tiny economies are
able to corner 2.24 to 2.5 percent of total world exports, a huge percentage
share.
The main beneficiary of a free trade policy, unilateral
trade liberalization policy to be exact, is not only the exports sector. The
tourism and financial-related sectors also greatly benefit. People from around
the world fly to Hong Kong and Singapore to buy certain goods that are not
available in their own countries, or available but at higher prices due to high
import duties. The airlines, hotels, restaurants, malls, souvenir shops, theme
parks, banks, other sectors, are able to optimize this huge influx of visitors
and convention participants from many countries around the world.
Free trade means free individuals. Producers and
consumers who are free to sell and buy various
products and services to and from many people, locals and foreigners
alike. It is a cool formula to uplift people from poverty and underdevelopment.
---------------See also:
Business 360 5: Reducing Construction and Electricity Bureaucracies, March 14, 2013
Business 360 6: Peace and Prosperity in Asia, April 13, 2013
Business 360 7: Jeju Forum for Peace, May 10, 2013
Business 360 8: TPP, RCEP, SAARC and Free Trade, June 17, 2013
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