Trade agreements and transnational factors affecting Pakistan’s meat export: A gravity analysis

Abstract

With a significant increase in global meat consuming population, demand for meat is on a rise. Pakistan being an agrarian economy earns significant export revenue from meat and has huge potential to expand its export base. This study identifies the impact of Trade agreements and various other Transnational factors on Pakistan’s meat export. The study uses cross country panel data with 22 trade partners of Pakistan from 2001 to 2023 and uses commodity specific gravity model to study the impacts. It is evident from the research results that GDP of Pakistan and its trading partners, Population of the trading partner both significantly impact Pakistan’s meat exports. Whereas distance has a negative relation with exports. However, exchange rate and domestic livestock population in Pakistan has no significant impact on meat exports. Likewise, existence of FTA and PTA did not have any impact on boosting Pakistan’s meat exports. The findings of this study may provide valuable input to the policy makers and appropriate policies may be devised in the future for addressing the shortcomings hampering the meat exports.