Do food safety regulations impede agrifood exports of China?

Abstract This study uses the gravity model to estimate the effects of food safety regulations implemented by the partner countries on agri‐food exports of China. Annual bilateral trade data are compiled for major agrifood export items of China like apples, kidney beans, garlic, mandarins and orange, meat of swine, and tea. The panel data are estimated using both the fixed‐ and random‐effect models. Results of the study show that all the standard gravity‐type variables carry signs according to prior expectations and economic theory. The study concludes that food safety regulations have no effect on exports of all the selected commodities except meat of swine.