STRATEGIC TRADE-POLICY AND RETALIATION

This paper analyses the effect of retaliation with countervailing tariffs on the profit shifting argument for export subsidies. When the domestic country pursues a policy of laissez-faire it may be harmed by a foreign export subsidy. However, when the domestic country pursues an optimal trade policy it will always gain from a foreign export subsidy. The optimal domestic response to a foreign export subsidy is a partially countervailing tariff, and faced with such a response the foreign country will be deterred from subsidising exports. There is no profit shifting argument for an export subsidy when there is retaliation.