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The Impact of Trade Promotion Organizations on Exports: Evidence from the COVID-19 Pandemic

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2025-08-13
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2025-08-13
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This paper examines the impact of trade promotion organizations on exports during the COVID-19 pandemic using a World Bank survey. The results suggest that increased trade promotion organization budgets significantly boosted exports during downturns but had no effect during the recovery phase. Interestingly, e-commerce programs adopted by trade promotion organizations negatively affected exports during downturns as they diverted resources away from productive support, especially for sectors not intensive in online trade. These findings suggest that countercyclical trade promotion organizations budgets may enhance trade resilience during similar global shocks.
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Choi, Yewon; Fernandes, Ana Margarida; Grover, Arti; Iacovone, Leonardo; Olarreaga, Marcelo. 2025. The Impact of Trade Promotion Organizations on Exports: Evidence from the COVID-19 Pandemic. Policy Research Working Paper; 11182. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/43579 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.
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