Evasion behaviors of exporters and importers: Evidence from the U.S.–China trade data discrepancy

Since the late 1990s, reported U.S. imports from China and Hong Kong have regularly and increasingly exceeded reported exports of China and Hong Kong to the United States. This discrepancy, which is not caused by re-exporting through Hong Kong, varies by product categories, and in some cases takes t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of international economics 2012, Vol.86 (1), p.141-157
Main Authors: Ferrantino, Michael J., Liu, Xuepeng, Wang, Zhi
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
China
Economic models
Export VAT rebates
Exports
Hong Kong
International trade
Studies
Tariff revenues
Tariffs
Tax evasion
Trade data discrepancy
Transfer pricing
U.S.A
Value-added taxes
VAT
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Summary:Since the late 1990s, reported U.S. imports from China and Hong Kong have regularly and increasingly exceeded reported exports of China and Hong Kong to the United States. This discrepancy, which is not caused by re-exporting through Hong Kong, varies by product categories, and in some cases takes the opposite sign. In this paper, we focus on China's direct exports to the United States. Using a model that allows for simultaneous misreporting to two authorities, we find strong statistical evidence of under-reporting exports at the Chinese border to avoid paying value-added tax (VAT). The value of VAT avoided is estimated at $6.5 billion during 2002–2008, and the associated understatements account for approximately two-thirds of the discrepancy. We also provide evidence of tariff evasion at the U.S. border, in particular for related-party transactions, and indirect evidence of transfer pricing and evasion of Chinese capital controls. An estimated $2 billion of U.S. tariff revenue is lost due to such evasion during 2002–2008, which reduces the apparent size of the statistical discrepancy. ► We develop a simple misreporting model to explain trade data discrepancy. ► We test the model using mirrored U.S.–China eastbound direct trade data. ► We find strong evidence for under-reporting of Chinese exports to avoid paying VAT. ► We also provide evidence of tariff evasion at the U.S. border. ► There are also indirect evidence of transfer pricing for U.S. multi-nationals.
ISSN:0022-1996
1873-0353
DOI:10.1016/j.jinteco.2011.08.006